Organic Chemistry: Alcohols & Carboxylic Acids

Flashcards reviewing combustion, oxidation, sodium reactions, esterification, naming, properties, and tests related to alcohols and carboxylic acids.

What are the products of complete combustion of an alcohol?

Carbon dioxide (CO₂) and water (H₂O).

Which oxidising agent is commonly used to convert an alcohol into a carboxylic acid?

Acidified potassium dichromate(VI).

Oxidising propan-1-ol produces which carboxylic acid?

Propanoic acid.

Write the balanced equation for the reaction of ethanol with sodium metal.

2C₂H₅OH + 2Na → 2C₂H₅ONa + H₂.

What gas is liberated when an alcohol reacts with sodium?

Hydrogen gas (H₂).

Name the salt formed when methanol reacts with sodium.

Sodium methoxide.

What is the functional group of carboxylic acids?

The carboxyl (–COOH) group.

Give the general formula for a straight-chain alcohol.

CₙH₂ₙ₊₁OH.

Give the general formula for a straight-chain carboxylic acid.

CₙH₂ₙ₊₁COOH.

Provide the molecular formula of ethanoic acid.

CH₃COOH.

Provide the molecular formula of butanoic acid.

C₃H₇COOH.

Why are carboxylic acids described as weak acids?

They only partially ionise in water, releasing a small proportion of H⁺ ions.

Write the ionisation equilibrium for ethanoic acid in water.

CH₃COOH ⇌ CH₃COO⁻ + H⁺.

What three products are formed when a carboxylic acid reacts with a metal carbonate?

A salt, water, and carbon dioxide.

Give the balanced equation for ethanoic acid reacting with sodium carbonate.

2CH₃COOH + Na₂CO₃ → 2CH₃COONa + H₂O + CO₂.

What observation confirms the presence of a carboxylic acid when it reacts with a carbonate?

Effervescence (bubbling) of CO₂ gas.

What type of reaction converts an alcohol and a carboxylic acid into an ester?

Esterification.

Write the balanced equation for forming methyl ethanoate from methanol and ethanoic acid.

CH₃OH + CH₃COOH → CH₃COOCH₃ + H₂O.

Which ester forms when ethanol reacts with propanoic acid?

Ethyl propanoate.

Name the acid catalyst commonly used in esterification.

Concentrated sulfuric acid (H₂SO₄).

List the first five straight-chain carboxylic acids and their formulas.

Methanoic (HCOOH), ethanoic (CH₃COOH), propanoic (C₂H₅COOH), butanoic (C₃H₇COOH), pentanoic (C₄H₉COOH).

What prefix is used for an eight-carbon carboxylic acid?

Oct- (octanoic acid).

Give the molecular formula of decanoic acid.

C₉H₁₉COOH.