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Carboxylic acids and derivatives (A-level only)
This A-level-only topic links acidity, nucleophilic addition-elimination and derivatives.
4
Objectives
10
Flashcards
10
Questions
88 min
Study time
AqaA LevelChemistryOrganic chemistry
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What you need to know
4 objective pages available
Carboxylic acids, esters and acyl derivatives (A-level only)4 objectives
- Explain acidic behaviour of carboxylic acids.
- Describe esterification and hydrolysis reactions.
- Explain reactions of acyl chlorides and acid anhydrides.
- Outline nucleophilic addition-elimination mechanisms for acyl derivatives.
Key terms
Carboxylic acidDissociation constant (Kₐ)EsterificationHydrolysisAcyl chlorideNucleophile
Exam tips
- Use equilibrium expressions correctly: When dealing with acid-base equilibria, always write the correct equilibrium expression for Kₐ.
- Balance chemical equations: Always ensure that your chemical equations are balanced in terms of both atoms and charge.
Common mistakes
- Confusing carboxylic acids with alcohols: Remember that carboxylic acids can donate a proton due to the presence of the carboxyl group, while alcohols cannot.
- Confusing esterification with hydrolysis: Remember that esterification forms an ester and water, while hydrolysis breaks down an ester into a carboxylic acid and an alcohol.
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