Carboxylic Acid
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A series of free IGCSE Chemistry Activities and Experiments (Cambridge IGCSE Chemistry).
Carboxylic Acid
• Draw the structures of methanoic acid, ethanoic acid and propanoic acid.
• Describe the reactions of carboxylic acids.
1. Carboxylic acids react with carbonates to produce carbon dioxide.
2. Carboxylic acids react with alcohols to make esters.
3. Carboxylic acids dissolve in water to produce acidic solutions.
• Explain why carboxylic acids are weak acids.
Hydrochloric acid is a strong acid as it fully ionises. Hydrochloric acid has a low pH.
Carboxylic acid are weak acids as they do not fully ionise. Carboxylic acids have a higher pH.
Carboxylic Acid Reactions
1. Reaction with sodium hydroxide
Ethanoic acid + sodium hydroxide → sodium ethanoate + water
CH3COOH + NaOH → CH3COONa + H2O
2. Reaction with sodium carbonate
Ethanoic acid + sodium carbonate → sodium ethanoate + carbon dioxide + water
2CH3COOH + NaCO3 → 2CH3COONa + CO2 + H2O
3. Reaction with sodium hydrogen carbonate
Ethanoic acid + sodium carbonate → sodium ethanoate + carbon dioxide + water
CH3COOH + NaHCO3 → CH3COONa + CO2 + H2O
4. Reaction with aqueous ammonia
Ethanoic acid + ammonia → ammonium ethanoate
CH3COOH + NH3 → CH3COONH4
5. Reaction with sodium metal
Ethanoic acid + sodium → sodium ethanoate + hydrogen
2CH3COOH + 2Na → 2CH3COONa + H2
6. Reaction with phosphorus pentachloride
CH3COOH + PCl5 → CH3COCl + HCl + POCl3
Ethanol and Ethanoic Acid
Ethanol is produced from ethene, a chemical produced from the fractional distillation of crude oil and involving cracking using a catalyst at high temperature and pressure. Ethanol can be made in two ways:
1. Hydration of Ethene
Ethene + steam → ethanol
C2H4 + H2O → C2H5OH
2. Fermentation of Glucose
Fermentation of sugar from standard crops like sugar cane and corn, under warm and anaerobic conditions.
sugar (glucose) → ethanol + carbon dioxide
C6H12O6 → 2C2H5OH + 2CO2
This process uses yeast as an enzyme.
Ethanoic Acid
Ethanol + oxygen → ethanoic acid + water
C2H5OH + O2 → CH3COOH + H2O
Ethanoic acid is also known as acetic acid or vinegar.
Carboxylic Acids - Reactions
• Ethanoic acid is a typical acid. It will turn litmus paper and universal indicator red.
Ethanoic acid reacts with metal to form hydrogen gas.
• Magnesium + ethanoic acid → magnesium ethanoate + hydrogen
Mg(s) + 2CH3COOH(aq) → (CH3COO)2Mg(aq) + H2(g)
• Ethanoic acid reacts with bases to form water in a neutralisation reaction.
Ethanoic acid + sodium hydroxide → sodium ethanoate + water
2CH3COOH(aq) + NaOH(aq) → CH3COO2Na(aq) + H2O(l)
• Ethanoic acid reacts with carbonates to form water and carbon dioxide.
Ethanoic acid + sodium carbonate → sodium ethanoate + water
2CH3COOH(aq) + Na2CO3(aq) → 2CH3COO2Na(aq) + CO2(g) + H2O(l)
More Lessons for IGCSE Chemistry
Math Worksheets
A series of free IGCSE Chemistry Activities and Experiments (Cambridge IGCSE Chemistry).
Carboxylic Acid
• Draw the structures of methanoic acid, ethanoic acid and propanoic acid.
• Describe the reactions of carboxylic acids.
1. Carboxylic acids react with carbonates to produce carbon dioxide.
2. Carboxylic acids react with alcohols to make esters.
3. Carboxylic acids dissolve in water to produce acidic solutions.
• Explain why carboxylic acids are weak acids.
Hydrochloric acid is a strong acid as it fully ionises. Hydrochloric acid has a low pH.
Carboxylic acid are weak acids as they do not fully ionise. Carboxylic acids have a higher pH.
1. Reaction with sodium hydroxide
Ethanoic acid + sodium hydroxide → sodium ethanoate + water
CH3COOH + NaOH → CH3COONa + H2O
2. Reaction with sodium carbonate
Ethanoic acid + sodium carbonate → sodium ethanoate + carbon dioxide + water
2CH3COOH + NaCO3 → 2CH3COONa + CO2 + H2O
3. Reaction with sodium hydrogen carbonate
Ethanoic acid + sodium carbonate → sodium ethanoate + carbon dioxide + water
CH3COOH + NaHCO3 → CH3COONa + CO2 + H2O
4. Reaction with aqueous ammonia
Ethanoic acid + ammonia → ammonium ethanoate
CH3COOH + NH3 → CH3COONH4
5. Reaction with sodium metal
Ethanoic acid + sodium → sodium ethanoate + hydrogen
2CH3COOH + 2Na → 2CH3COONa + H2
6. Reaction with phosphorus pentachloride
CH3COOH + PCl5 → CH3COCl + HCl + POCl3
Ethanol and Ethanoic Acid
Ethanol is produced from ethene, a chemical produced from the fractional distillation of crude oil and involving cracking using a catalyst at high temperature and pressure. Ethanol can be made in two ways:
1. Hydration of Ethene
Ethene + steam → ethanol
C2H4 + H2O → C2H5OH
2. Fermentation of Glucose
Fermentation of sugar from standard crops like sugar cane and corn, under warm and anaerobic conditions.
sugar (glucose) → ethanol + carbon dioxide
C6H12O6 → 2C2H5OH + 2CO2
This process uses yeast as an enzyme.
Ethanoic Acid
Ethanol + oxygen → ethanoic acid + water
C2H5OH + O2 → CH3COOH + H2O
Ethanoic acid is also known as acetic acid or vinegar.
Carboxylic Acids - Reactions
• Ethanoic acid is a typical acid. It will turn litmus paper and universal indicator red.
Ethanoic acid reacts with metal to form hydrogen gas.
• Magnesium + ethanoic acid → magnesium ethanoate + hydrogen
Mg(s) + 2CH3COOH(aq) → (CH3COO)2Mg(aq) + H2(g)
• Ethanoic acid reacts with bases to form water in a neutralisation reaction.
Ethanoic acid + sodium hydroxide → sodium ethanoate + water
2CH3COOH(aq) + NaOH(aq) → CH3COO2Na(aq) + H2O(l)
• Ethanoic acid reacts with carbonates to form water and carbon dioxide.
Ethanoic acid + sodium carbonate → sodium ethanoate + water
2CH3COOH(aq) + Na2CO3(aq) → 2CH3COO2Na(aq) + CO2(g) + H2O(l)
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