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Chapter 16 Carboxylic Acids and Esters

16.5Properties of Esters

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Boiling Points of Esters

The boiling points of esters are higher than for alkanes of similar mass are lower than alcohols and carboxylic acids of

similar mass because esters cannot form hydrogen bonds

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In acid hydrolysis, an ester reacts with water to produce a carboxylic

acid and an alcohol an acid catalyst is required

Acid Hydrolysis of Esters

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Base hydrolysis (also called saponification) is the reaction of an ester with a strong base produces the salt of the carboxylic acid and an

alcohol

Base Hydrolysis (Saponification)

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“Soaps”

The base hydrolysis of long chain fatty acids produces acid salts called “soaps”

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Cleaning Action of Soap

A soap contains a nonpolar end that dissolves in nonpolar

fats and oils and a polar end that dissolves in water forms groups of soap molecules called micelles that

dissolve in water and are washed away

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Write the condensed structural formulas of the organic products when methyl acetate reacts with:

A. water and an acid catalyst

B. KOH

Learning Check

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Write the condensed structural formulas of the organic products when methyl acetate reacts with:

A. Water and an acid catalyst

B. KOH

Solution