OCR A-Level Chemistry B H433
Development of Practical Skills in Chemistry
Elements of Life
Developing Fuels
Elements From the Sea
The Ozone Story
What's in a Medicine?
The Chemical Industry
Polymers and Life
Oceans
Developing Metals
Colour by Design
Chemical Literacy
Mathematical Skills in Chemistry
Polymers and Life
Hydrolysis of esters and amides
- 4 things to know
- Components 01, 02 and 03
Overview
Recall questions on acid and alkaline hydrolysis of an ester and an amide, why the alkaline route goes to completion, and recovering the free acid.
What you need to know
Answer each one before you reveal it.
What is the equation for the acid hydrolysis of ethyl ethanoate, why is it an equilibrium, and what is the equation for methyl propanoate with sodium hydroxide?
Why does alkaline hydrolysis of an ester go to completion, how is the free carboxylic acid recovered, and what is the equation for ethanamide with hydrochloric acid?
What are the products when ethanamide is hydrolysed by sodium hydroxide, when a secondary amide is hydrolysed by aqueous alkali, and when nylon-6,6 is hydrolysed by hot concentrated acid?
Questions from this subtopic
Each one with the model answer underneath.
- 1
What is meant by hydrolysis?
Model answer
It is the breaking of a bond by reaction with water, splitting a molecule into two parts.
- 2
Name the two products of the acid hydrolysis of an ester.
Model answer
A carboxylic acid and an alcohol.
- 3
State the conditions for the acid hydrolysis of an ester.
Model answer
Heat it under reflux with dilute sulfuric or hydrochloric acid.
- 4
Write an equation for the acid hydrolysis of ethyl ethanoate.
Model answer
CH₃COOCH₂CH₃ + H₂O ⇌ CH₃COOH + CH₃CH₂OH.
- 5
Why is the acid hydrolysis of an ester written with an equilibrium sign?
Model answer
The reaction is reversible, since the acid and alcohol produced can re-esterify, so it never goes to completion.
- 6
Why is an excess of water used in acid hydrolysis?
Model answer
It shifts the equilibrium position towards the products, giving a higher yield of the acid and alcohol.
Other ways to work this
The same content, four other ways.
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