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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.

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Numbers

What are the products when a carboxylic acid reacts with an alkali and with a reactive metal, and what is the equation for propanoic acid with sodium hydroxide?

Numbers

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?

Numbers

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?

Numbers

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. 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. 2

    Name the two products of the acid hydrolysis of an ester.

    Model answer

    A carboxylic acid and an alcohol.

  3. 3

    State the conditions for the acid hydrolysis of an ester.

    Model answer

    Heat it under reflux with dilute sulfuric or hydrochloric acid.

  4. 4

    Write an equation for the acid hydrolysis of ethyl ethanoate.

    Model answer

    CH₃COOCH₂CH₃ + H₂O ⇌ CH₃COOH + CH₃CH₂OH.

  5. 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. 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.

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