Understanding Chemistry

 

CARBOXYLIC ACIDS MENU

 

Background . . .

An introduction to carboxylic acids and their salts, including their bonding and their physical properties.

Preparation of carboxylic acids . . .

Their preparation by the oxidation of primary alcohols and aldehydes, and by the hydrolysis of nitriles.

Simple reactions of carboxylic acids as acids . . .

Reactions with metals, sodium hydroxide, carbonates and hydrogencarbonates, ammonia and amines.

Making esters from carboxylic acids . . .

Reactions with alcohols to produce esters.

Reduction of carboxylic acids . . .

The reduction of carboxylic acids to primary alcohols using lithium tetrahydridoaluminate(III) (lithium aluminium hydride).

Making acyl chlorides (acid chlorides) . . .

Replacing the -OH in the -COOH group with chlorine using phosphorus(V) chloride, phosphorus(III) chloride or sulphur dichloride oxide (thionyl chloride).

The decarboxylation of carboxylic acids and their salts . . .

Formation of hydrocarbons by heating the salts of carboxylic acids (and some acids) with soda lime.



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© Jim Clark 2004