Zusammenfassung der Ressource
Chemistry: Alcohols,
Carboxylic Acids and Esters
- Alcohols
- Alcohols are a homologous series of organic compounds that
contain the functional group -OH.
- Homologous series: A family of compounds that share a
functional group and therefore have similar chemical
reactions and have trends in physical properties.
- The first three are methanol, ethanol and propanol.
- They are highly flammable, making them good
to use as fuels.
- Also used as solvents in marker pens,
medicines and cosmetics
- Ethanol is the alcohol found in alcoholic drinks such as
wine and beer and is usually mixed with petrol for use as
fuel
- They follow the rule C(n)H(n+2)OH
- They are colourless liquids that dissolve in water
to form neutral solutions (pH7)
- React with sodium to produce hydrogen and a salt
- E.g.: ethanol + sodium --> hydrogen +
sodium ethoxide
- Burn in air, releasing energy and producing CO2 and water.
- E.g.: methanol + oxygen --> carbon dioxide + water
2CH3OH + 3O2 --> 2CO2 + 4H2O
- Ethanol + oxygen --> carbon dioxide + water
2C2H5OH + 6O2 --> 4CO2 + 6H2O
- Propanol + oxygen --> carbon dioxide + water
2C3H7OH + 9O2 --> 6CO2 + 8H2O
- Carboxylic Acids
- Carboxylic acids are a homologous series of organic
compounds with the functional group -COOH
- Names end with '-oic acid', ie ethanoic acid
- Vinegar is an aqueous solution containing ethanoic acid formed
through the oxidation of ethanol.
- This can be done through either adding oxidising agents, such as acidified
potassium dichromate, or the action of microbes in aerobic conditions.
- This is noticed on small scales when a bottle of wine is left
open and exposed to air- on a commercial scale it is achieved in
a fermenter using acetic acid bacteria
- Dissolve in water to produce acidic solutions (pH below 7)
- React with carbonates to produce carbon
dioxide, a salt and water.
- E.g.: Calcium carbonate + ethanoic acid --> calcium ethanoate + water + carbon
dioxide
- All react with alcohols to form esters when in the presence of an acid catalyst.
- E.g.: ethanol + ethanoic acid --> ethyl ethanoate + water
- Ionisation of weak acids
- Strong acids such as hydrochloric acid ionise fully in water
- HCl --> H+ + CL-
- Their aqueous solutions have a high
concentration of hydrogen ions, H+,
giving them a low pH.
- Carboxylic acids are weak acids. They do not
completely ionise when they are dissolved in
water. Instead, only some of the molecules ionise
to form H+ ions
- Ch3COOH <---> CH3COO- + H+
- This means an aqueous solution of a weak acid will have a
higher pH compared to the same concentration of an solution of a
strong acid.
- Weak acids still have a pH below 7.
- Esters
- A group of organic compounds with the
functional group -COO-
- They are volatile- liquids
that can become vapours
easily
- They have distinctive 'fruity' smells
- Used as food flavourings and
perfumes due to their properties
- Ethyl Ethanoate
- Ethyl ethanoate is the ester made from
ethanol and ethanoic acid, with sulphuric
acid used as a catalyst
- http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/science/triple_aqa/alcohols_carboxylic_acids_esters/esters/revision/1/
- Diagram of reaction
- Ethanol + ethanoic acid <---> ethyl ethanoate + water
- CH3CH2OH + CH3COOH <---> CH3CH2OOCCH3 + H2O
- Alcohol makes the first part of the name,
carboxylic acid makes the second
- E.g.: Ethanol + Proanoic acid = Ethyl propanoate,
Butanol + methanoic acid = Butyl methanoate