EXPERIMENT 3

REACTION OF CARBOXYLIC ACID AND DERIVATIVES

INTRODUCTION
Carboxylic acid is an organic acid, which consists of carboxyl group COOH as a functional group.
The general formula for this acid is R-COOH where R is an alkyl group.

OBJECTIVE
To study the reaction of carboxylic acid and its derivatives with specific reagents.

APPARATUS
Test tube, Red litmus paper, Watch glass, Filter paper, Water bath.

CHEMICALS
Ethanoic acid
Ethanamide solid
5% Na2CO3 solution
Ethanol
Dilute and concentrated sulphuric acid
NaOH solution
FeCl3 solution
Sodium nitrite solution
HCl

PROCEDURE

Method A

1. Pour 2 cm3 of sodium carbonate solution in a watch glass than add a few drops of ethanoic acid
solution.
2. Pour 2 cm3 of ethanol and 3 drops concentrated sulfuric acid into a test tube. Than add in 1 cm3 of
ethanoic acid. Warm the mixture in a hot water bath for 5 minutes. Record its smell.

3. a. Preparation of neutral carboxylic acid salt

In a test tube, add few drops of sodium hydroxide solution into 3 cm3 ethanoic acid solutions.

b. Preparation of neutral iron III chloride solution

Into a test tube add few drops of iron III chloride until formation trace amount of precipitate of iron
III hydroxide form. The mixture is filtered and keeps the analyte (neutral Iron III chloride solution).

c. Mix the neutral carboxylic salt (prepared in 3a) and the neutral Iron III chloride solution
(prepared in 3 b) and boil the mixture.

Method B:

1. Base hydrolysis
Into 0.2 g ethanamide, add 2cm3 of sodium hydroxide solution. Heat the mixture. Identify the gas
release.

2. Acid hydrolysis
Into 0.2g ethanamide, add 2cm3 of sulfuric acid solution. Heat he mixture.

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3. Nitrous acid solution
Into 0.5 g ethanamide, add 3-4 cm3 of sodium nitrate solution. Then add few drops of dilute
hydrochloric acid solution into the mixture.

DISCUSSION
In your discussion, you need to include equations of each reaction in the experiment above. State your
observation and give the conclusion of your results. If the observation does not comply with your
expectation, you need to give the reason and expected results of the experiment. Answer each question
given in the procedure above. Write discussion in proper arrangement.

QUESTIONS
1. Which compound below is more soluble in water? Explain your answer.
a) Methanoic acid and heptanoic acid.
b) Pentanoic and pentanedioic.

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 DATASHEET EXPERIMENT 3
REACTION OF CARBOXYLIC ACID AND ITS DERIVATIVES

Name:________________________________________ Date of Experiment: _______________

Student ID: ______________________________________________Group: ________________

Group Members:_________________________________________

Test Observation

Ethanoic acid Ethanamide

a) Acid and base

reaction

b) Reaction of FeCl3
with ethanoate

c) Reaction with nitrous

acid solution

_______________________

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