Chapter 19, Problem 87AE

(a)

Interpretation Introduction

Interpretation:

The products formed in the reaction between methanol and formic acid in the presence of acid-catalyst has to be identified and its complete chemical equation has to be written by showing their reactants and products.

Concept Introduction:

Alcohols:

Alcohols are organic compounds whose molecules contains the hydroxyl $\left(-\text{OH}\right)$ functional group bonded to ${\text{sp}}^3$ hybridized carbon. The generalized structure of alkyl halides is represented as follows:

Carboxylic acids:

Carboxylic acids are organic acids because the hydrogen in the carboxyl functional group is acidic. These acids are not strong as compared to the mineral acids. The carboxyl functional group in the carboxylic acids can be written as follows.

Reaction of carboxylic acids with alcohols:

The carboxylic acids can react with alcohols in the presence of an acid-catalyst to form ester and water. This reaction is called esterification reaction which is a reversible reaction.

The general chemical reactions for the reaction between carboxylic acids and alcohols are shown below.

$\text{RCOOH + R'OH}\underset{}{\overset{{\text{H}}^{\text{+}}}{\rightleftharpoons }}\text{RCOOR'}\text{+}{\text{H}}_{\text{2}}\text{O}$

Esters:

Esters are a class of organic compounds that can be derived from the dehydration reaction of carboxylic acids with alcohols. The generalized formula of esters is shown below:

IUPAC rules for naming esters:

• Name the first part of the ester name as the $\text{R}$ (alkyl) group name of the $-\text{COOR}$ ester group.
• Name the second part of the ester name by replacing the $-icacid$ ending of the parent carboxylic acid with $-ate$.

(b)

Interpretation Introduction

Interpretation:

The products formed in the reaction between 1-butanol and butanoic acid in the presence of acid-catalyst has to be identified and its complete chemical equation has to be written by showing their reactants and products.

Concept Introduction:

Refer to part (a).

(c)

Interpretation Introduction

Interpretation:

The products formed in the reaction between 1-hexanol and hexanoic acid in the presence of acid-catalyst has to be identified and its complete chemical equation has to be written by showing their reactants and products.

Concept Introduction:

Refer to part (a).