What is the ester functional group?

A carbonyl carbon bonded to an oxygen that is in turn bonded to a carbon chain, written COOC. The name gives the alcohol part first, then the acid part ending in -oate.

Why do esters have lower boiling temperatures than the acids they are made from?

An ester has no hydrogen bonded to oxygen, so its molecules cannot hydrogen bond to one another and only permanent dipole and London forces need be overcome.

What is formed when an ester is hydrolysed by heating with dilute acid?

A carboxylic acid and an alcohol. The reaction is reversible, so the yield is limited and an excess of water is used to push it forward.

What is formed when an ester is hydrolysed by heating with sodium hydroxide?

The sodium salt of the carboxylic acid and the alcohol. Because the salt does not react back, this hydrolysis goes to completion.

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Esters and acyl chlorides

3 things to know
Papers 2 and 3

Overview

Recall questions on esterification and its catalyst, on acid and alkaline hydrolysis, on the uses of esters, and on the reactions of acyl chlorides.

What you need to know

Answer each one before you reveal it.

Your recallNot started

Process

How are esters made and broken?

Key term

How is ethyl ethanoate named from the alcohol and acid it comes from?

Key term

Give two everyday uses of esters and the property each depends on.

Questions from this subtopic

Each one with the model answer underneath.

1
What is the ester functional group?
Model answer
A carbonyl carbon bonded to an oxygen that is in turn bonded to a carbon chain, written COOC. The name gives the alcohol part first, then the acid part ending in -oate.
2
How is ethyl ethanoate named from the alcohol and acid it comes from?
Model answer
The ethyl comes from ethanol, which supplies the alkyl group attached to the single-bonded oxygen, and the ethanoate from ethanoic acid, which supplies the carbonyl part.
3
Why do esters have lower boiling temperatures than the acids they are made from?
Model answer
An ester has no hydrogen bonded to oxygen, so its molecules cannot hydrogen bond to one another and only permanent dipole and London forces need be overcome.
4
Give two everyday uses of esters and the property each depends on.
Model answer
Flavourings and perfumes, which depend on their pleasant smells and volatility, and solvents such as those in glues and nail varnish remover, which depend on their ability to dissolve organic compounds.
5
What is formed when an ester is hydrolysed by heating with dilute acid?
Model answer
A carboxylic acid and an alcohol. The reaction is reversible, so the yield is limited and an excess of water is used to push it forward.
6
What is formed when an ester is hydrolysed by heating with sodium hydroxide?
Model answer
The sodium salt of the carboxylic acid and the alcohol. Because the salt does not react back, this hydrolysis goes to completion.

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