Carboxylic Acid Reactions

Contents Carboxylic Acids Physical Properties Preparation of Carboxylic Acids Reactions of Carboxylic Acids …With metals …With bases …With carbonates …With Alkalis … Esterification Summary

Carboxylic Acids

Physical Properties

Preparation of Carboxylic Acids

Reactions of Carboxylic Acids

…With metals

…With bases

…With carbonates

…With Alkalis

… Esterification

Summary

Carboxylic Acids The functional group is –COOH or They are named by taking the ‘e’ from the stem of the alkane and adding ‘–oic acid’ for the suffix They are found throughout nature Citrus fruits Rhubarb leaves Sting of ants Back to Contents

The functional group is –COOH or

They are named by taking the ‘e’ from the stem of the alkane and adding ‘–oic acid’ for the suffix

They are found throughout nature

Citrus fruits

Rhubarb leaves

Sting of ants

Physical Properties Very soluble in solvents Soluble in water due to hydrogen bonding As mass increases, solubility decreases Boiling point increases as size increases due to more van der Waals Back to Contents

Very soluble in solvents

Soluble in water due to hydrogen bonding

As mass increases, solubility decreases

Boiling point increases as size increases due to more van der Waals

Preparation of Carboxylic Acids There are several ways to prepare carboxylic acids, the following list corresponds to the equations below Oxidation of aldehydes Hydrolysis of esters Hydrolysis of acyl chlorides Hydrolysis of nitriles Hydrolysis of amids Back to Contents

There are several ways to prepare carboxylic acids, the following list corresponds to the equations below

Oxidation of aldehydes

Hydrolysis of esters

Hydrolysis of acyl chlorides

Hydrolysis of nitriles

Hydrolysis of amids

Reactions of Carboxylic Acids… They are weak monobasic acids Take part in the typical acid reactions Salts formed are known as caboxylates The carboxylate contains a carboxylate ion Back to Contents

They are weak monobasic acids

Take part in the typical acid reactions

Salts formed are known as caboxylates

The carboxylate contains a carboxylate ion

…With Metals Produces a salt and hydrogen … With Bases Produces salt and water Back to Contents

Produces a salt and hydrogen

Produces salt and water

…With Carbonates Produces a salt, carbon dioxide and water Back to Contents … With Alkalis Produces a salt (equation 1) The acid can be freed from the salt by reacting with a stronger aid (equation 2)

Produces a salt, carbon dioxide and water

Produces a salt (equation 1)

The acid can be freed from the salt by reacting with a stronger aid (equation 2)

Esterification Reagents: Alcohol + acid catalyst (conc. H ₂ SO ₄ ) Conditions: Reflux Equation: Concentrated is used because it is a dehydrating agent that will help remove the water This will increase the yield of ester Back to Contents

Reagents: Alcohol + acid catalyst (conc. H ₂ SO ₄ )

Conditions: Reflux

Equation:

Concentrated is used because it is a dehydrating agent that will help remove the water

This will increase the yield of ester

Summary Back to Contents Alcohol Ester + Water Weak Acid Proton donor Carbonate Salt + Water +CO ₂ Metal Salt + H ₂ Base Salt + Water Carboxylic Acid