Organic Chemistry : Carboxylic Acids

1. Write down the chemical equations for the following reactions

(a) Ethanoic acid and sodium hydroxide


……………………………………………………………………………………………….

(b) Propanoic acid and potassium carbonate


…………………………………………………………………………………….

2. Carboxylic acids react with alcohols to yield a sweet smelling liquid. What is the name of the sweet smelling liquid?


Name: ………………………………….

State a use for this liquid

Use: …………………………………………………………………………………….

Write an equation showing the structural formula for the formation of this liquid from propanoic acid and ethanol. Name all the substances.

3. Draw the structural formulae of the following

(a) Ethyl ethanoate
(b) methyl butanoate

4. Alcohol S reacts with carboxylic acid T to form the ester propyl methanoate.

(a) Name the other product formed in the reaction.
(b) Name alcohol S and carboxylic acid T.

Answers :

1(a) CH3COOH + NaOH --> CH3COONa + H2O
(b) 2CH3CH2COOH + K2CO3 --> 2CH3CH2COO-K+ + CO2 + H2O
2. The liquid is an ester. An ester can be used for flavourings.
CH3CH2COOH + CH3CH2OH --> CH3CH2COOCH2CH3 + H2O
3(a) CH3COOCH2CH3
(b) CH3CH2CH2COOCH3
4(a) The other product is water.
(b) The alcohol S is propanol. The carboxylic acid T is methanoic acid.