Carboxylic Acids and their Derivatives, Chemistry tutorial

Introduction:

The Carboxylic acids refers to class of organic compound having the carboxyl functional group

2393_Carboxyl functional group.jpg

Fig: Carboxyl functional group

that includes both a carbonyl and a hydroxyl functional group.

General Formula of Carboxylic Acids:

The functional group is linked to an alkyl group or an aromatic ring. The general formula for carboxylic acid is CnH2n+1 COOH (n ≥ l or simply R COOH where the 'R' refers to an alkyl - or aryl group.

For illustration:

545_Example of Carboxylic Acids.jpg

Fig: Example of Carboxylic Acids

Derivatives of Carboxylic Acids:

Carboxylic acid derivatives are the group of compounds in which the -OH group in the acid has been substituted by the other groups. Esters encompass an -OR group, acyl chloride have the -OH substituted by -Cl bonded to the carbonyl carbon atom amides have an -NH2, -NHR or NR2 group bonded to the carbonyl carbon atom whereas acid anhydrides encompass the  -O2 CR group.

2324_Derivatives of Carboxylic Acids.jpg

Fig: Derivatives of Carboxylic Acids

Naming Carboxylic Acids and Their Derivatives-IUPAC Nomenclature:

Carboxylic Acids:

The Carboxylic acids are named from the corresponding alkane, via replacing the ending '-e' by the suffix '-oic acid'.

For illustration:

2344_Carboxylic Acids.jpg

Fig: Carboxylic Acids

The numbering of the carbon begins by the carbon atom in the carboxylic acid functional group.

The common names of carboxylic acid are usually derived from the Greek or Latin name of their source of origin. The positions of substitution in the hydrocarbon chain are represented by the Greek letters α, β, γ and so on, instead of numbers.

For illustration:

319_Common names of carboxylic acid.jpg

Fig: Common names of carboxylic acid

Acyl chlorides:

Acyl chlorides are named via replacing the ending '-e' from the corresponding alkanes name by '-oyl chloride'.

For illustration:

1148_Acyl chlorides.jpg

Fig: Acyl chlorides

Esters:

Esters are the derivatives of carboxylic acids by the general formula

1614_Esters.jpg

Fig: Esters

R and R' might be similar or different alkyl groups.

Esters are termed as 'alkyl alkanoate'. The 'alkyl' is derived from the original alcohol whereas the 'alkanoate' is derived from the carboxylic acid.

2352_Example of Esters.jpg

Fig: Example of Esters

Acid anhydrides:

They are the derivatives of carboxylic acids by the general formula.

1761_Acid anhydrides.jpg

Fig: Acid anhydrides

R and R' might be similar or different alkyl groups.

Acid anhydrides are termed as carboxylic anhydride by the suffix '-oic anhydride'.

For illustration:

173_Example of Acid anhydrides.jpg

Fig: Example of Acid anhydrides

Amides:

Amides are termed from the corresponding alkanes by substituting the 'e' from the alkane by the suffix '- amide'. Amides encompass the general formula:

481_Amides.jpg

Fig: Amides

Whenever an amide has subsituents on its nitrogen atom, the prefix 'N' is employed.

Structure of Carboxylic Acids:

In the structure of carboxylic acids, at carbonyl linkage, there is the mesomeric withdrawal of electrons away from the carbon atom towards the more electronegative atom making a relative positive charge on the carbon atom. This deficiency of electrons about the carbon atom builds up the inductive pull of electrons away from the hydrogen atom in the oxygen-hydrogen bond improving the stability of the carboxylate anion, RCOO-, and promoting the discharge of a proton.

1253_Structure of Carboxylic Acids.jpg

Fig: Structure of Carboxylic Acids

Physical Properties of Carboxylic Acids:

The whole simple aliphatic carboxylic acids are liquids at room temperature.  They encompass a characteristic pungent smell and sour taste. The aromatic acids are crystalline solids.

The boiling points of carboxylic acids rises by relative molecular mass and they are higher than those of the corresponding alkanes however lower than that of alcohols. Aromatic acids encompass higher melting points than their aliphatic counterparts of comparative molecular mass.

The first four aliphatic acids are fully miscible with water due to the capability of the functional group to form hydrogen bonds with the water molecule. Though, the higher homologue becomes progressively less soluble in water as their greater hydrocarbon. Benzoic acid is only slightly soluble in the cold water however dissolves reading in hot water. All carboxylic acids can be dissolved in appropriate organic solvents.

Usually, density of carboxylic acid reduces with the increase in the relative molecular mass.

Volatile aldehydes and ketones are flammable. The simple ketones are less toxic than simple aldehydes.

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