Carboxylic acids and esters

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Total cards: 24•Content version: v4•Public deck•Updated: 8/1/2026

Card preview (24)

Front (Question)

Solubility of carboxylic acids?

Back (Answer)

• COOH group = soluble due to H bonding • hydrocarbon chain = non-polar • short chain carboxylic acids = soluble • long chain carboxylic acids = insoluble

Front (Question)

Why do carboxylic acids act as acids?

Back (Answer)

They donate a proton

Front (Question)

Carboxylic acids are weak acids. What does this mean?

Back (Answer)

Equilibrium lies to the left

Front (Question)

How is an ester formed?

Back (Answer)

Carboxylic acid + alcohol

Front (Question)

What catalyst is used in esterification?

Back (Answer)

H2SO4

Front (Question)

3 facts about esterification reactions.

Back (Answer)

• Water is always a product • Reversible reaction • catalyst is H2SO4

Front (Question)

What is the name of the reaction that allows esters to be turned back into carboxylic acids and alcohols?

Back (Answer)

Hydrolysis reaction

Front (Question)

What is meant by hydrolysis?

Back (Answer)

Breaking of a bond using water

Front (Question)

What are the two types of hydrolysis?

Back (Answer)

• Acid catalysed hydrolysis • Base catalysed hydrolysis

#10

Front (Question)

Acid hydrolysis of propylethanoate?

Back (Answer)

propylethanoate + water —> propan-1-ol + ethanoic acid catalyst = H2SO4

#11

Front (Question)

What is an example of an acid catalyst?

Back (Answer)

HCl

#12

Front (Question)

What is an example of base catalyst?

Back (Answer)

Warm, aqueous NaOH

#13

Front (Question)

In which type of hydrolysis results in high yield of product?

Back (Answer)

Base hydrolysis

#14

Front (Question)

Base hydrolysis of propylethanoate?

Back (Answer)

propylethanoate + water —> propan-1-ol + ethanoic acid ethnic acid + NaOH —> Sodium ethanoate catalyst - NaOH

#15

Front (Question)

What is the IUPAC name for glycerol?

Back (Answer)

propane-1,2,3-triol

#16

Front (Question)

What is biodiesel?

Back (Answer)

Mixture of methyl esters

#17

Front (Question)

Uses for esters?

Back (Answer)

• Plasticisers • Perfumes • Flavourings • Solvents for many reactions

#18

Front (Question)

What is an example of an acyl chloride?

Back (Answer)

ethanoyl chloride CH3COCl

#19

Front (Question)

What is an example of an acid anhydride?

Back (Answer)

ethanoic anhydride

#20

Front (Question)

Name CH3CH3COCl

Back (Answer)

propanoyl chloride

#21

Front (Question)

Name CH3CH2CH2CH2CH2COCl

Back (Answer)

hexanoyl chloride

#22

Front (Question)

What functional group is formed when an acyl chloride reacts with water?

Back (Answer)

Carboxylic acid

#23

Front (Question)

What functional group is formed when an acyl chloride reacts with an alcohol?

Back (Answer)

Ester

#24

Front (Question)

What functional group is formed when an acyl chloride reacts with ammonia?

Back (Answer)

Amide