QuestionQuestionConceptConceptDocumentDocument

33. Carboxylic acids and derivatives

Start with Concept to understand a topic, then use Question Bank to check what you know.

3 topics · 10 learning objectives

Your progress

Sign in to see your mastery and mistakes.

  1. 33.1 Carboxylic acids

    1. 33.1.1Preparation of benzoic acid

      • Recall preparation of benzoic acid: (a) reaction of an alkylbenzene with hot alkaline KMnO₄ and then dil. acid, exemplified by methylbenzene

    2. 33.1.2Carboxylic acids to acyl chlorides

      • Describe the reaction of carboxylic acids with PC l ₃ and heat, PCl ₅ or SOCl ₂ to form acyl chlorides

    3. 33.1.3Oxidation of carboxylic acids

      • Recognise that some carboxylic acids can be further oxidised: - (a) the oxidation of methanoic acid, HCOOH, with Fehling’s reagent or Tollens’ reagent or acidified KMnO₄ or acidified K₂Cr₂O₇ to form carbon dioxide and water - (b) the oxidation of ethanedioic acid, HOOCCOOH, with warm acidified KMnO₄ to form carbon dioxide

    4. 33.1.4Acidities of carboxylic acids, phenols

      • Describe/explain: the relative acidities of carboxylic acids, phenols and alcohols

    5. 33.1.5Acidities of chlorine-substituted carboxylic

      • Describe/explain: the relative acidities of chlorine-substituted carboxylic acids

  2. 33.2 Esters

    1. 33.2.1

      • Recall preparation of esters: (a) reaction of alcohols with acyl chlorides using the formation of ethyl ethanoate and phenyl benzoate; as examples

  3. 33.3 Acyl chlorides

    1. 33.3.1Preparation of acyl chlorides

      • Recall preparation of acyl chlorides: (a) reaction of carboxylic acids with PCl ₃ and heat, PCl ₅ or SOCl ₂

    2. 33.3.2Reactions of acyl chlorides

      • Describe reactions of acyl chlorides: - (a) hydrolysis on addition of water at room temp. to produce the carboxylic acid and HCl - (b) reaction with an alcohol at room temp. to produce an ester and HCl - (c) reaction with phenol at room temp. to produce an ester and HCl - (d) reaction with ammonia at room temp. to produce an amide and HCl - (e) reaction with a primary or secondary amine at room temp. to produce an amide and HC l

    3. 33.3.3Mechanism: acyl chlorides in reactions

      • Describe the addition–elimination mechanism of acyl chlorides in reactions in 33.3.2(a)–(e)

    4. 33.3.4Hydrolysis reactivity: acyl vs alkyl chlorides

      • Explain the relative ease of hydrolysis of acyl chlorides, alkyl chlorides and halogenoarenes (aryl chlorides)