Rio Tinto Rössing Foundation

Rio Tinto Rössing Foundation

Jegede Samson Abiodun: Education Officer for Physical Science
Jegede Samson Abiodun: Education Officer for Physical Science
Grade 11-12 Chemistry Teaching Notes: 42
Grade 11-12 Chemistry Teaching Notes: 42

Functional group

 Generally a chemical and physical property of a given hydrocarbon is determined by the

functional group attached to it.
 Changing a hydrocarbon functional group result into change in its chemical and some physical
properties.
 Compounds with a common functional group behave in the same way; chemically and hence
belong to the same family or homologous series.

Carboxylic (alkanoic) acids

 These are organic acids.

 These compounds are formed by the oxidation of alcoholic compounds.
 They contain or have a functional group –COOH (carboxyl). Some example of carboxylic
acids are ethanoic acids( CH3COOH), methanoic acid (HCOOH), propanoic
acid(C2H5COOH), butanoic acids(C4H7OOH) etc.
 Their general formula is Cn-1H(2n+1)COOH
 Carboxylic acids are weak acids which mainly occur naturally

ESTERS

 Ester is an organic compound which is basically a product of the reaction between alcoholic
compounds and carboxylic acids.
 The reaction is known as esterification. The products of this reaction are ester and water.
 Esterification reaction is catalyzed by the concentrated sulphuric acid.
 Esterification is also referred to as condensation reaction since two molecules are joined
 Esters have a functional group –COOR, where R is an alkyl group.
 Esters have a very sweet fruity smell.
 Naturally occurring esters are found in fruits, flowers etc.
 The structure of a typical ester namely ethyl ethanoate is shown below.

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NAMING OF ESTERS

 Common names of esters are derived from the organic acid and the alcohol from which they
are derived. For example, when acetic acid reacts with ethyl alcohol, the ester formed is called
ethyl acetate. Thus the ester formed is called ethyl ethanoate.

Illustration 2

Name and write down the structural formula of ester which is a product of methanol and methanoic
acids.

 Methyl methanoate e.g. CH3OH + HCOOH  HCOOCH3 +H2O.

This is the simplest of esters. The reaction of methanoic acid HCOOH and methanol CH3OH can
form this ester.

Illustration 3:

Name and write down the structural formula of ester produced by the reaction between
methanoic acid and ethanol.
 Ethyl methanoate e.g. CHOOH + C2H5OH  HCOOC2H3 +H2O

Illustration 4 (The one recommended by the syllabus)

Name and write down the structural formula of ester produced by the reaction between
ethanoic acid and ethanol.
 The ester name is ethyl ethanoate e.g. CH3COOH + C2H5OH  CH3COOC2H5 + H2O

 The functional group of the ester above is–COOR. R represents an ethyl group which
is C2H5 (R= C2H5)

 The reaction of ethanoic acid (CH3COOH) and ethanol (C2H5OH) can form this ester.

 The common name of the above ester is ethyl acetate.

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USES OF ESTERS

 Esters are used as artificial perfumes or scents as they emit a sweet smell.

 Esters are used in making artificial food flavors that are added in many edible items

like ice creams, soft drinks, sweets, etc.

 Esters are used as industrial solvents for making cellulose, fats, paints and varnishes.

 Esters are used as solvents in pharmaceutical industries for many products

 Esters are used as softeners in plastic industries and molding industries