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Ch.24 - The Chemistry of Life: Organic and Biological Chemistry
Brown - Chemistry: The Central Science 14th Edition
Brown14th EditionChemistry: The Central ScienceISBN: 9780134414232Not the one you use?Change textbook
All textbooksBrown 14th EditionCh.24 - The Chemistry of Life: Organic and Biological ChemistryProblem 49a
Chapter 24, Problem 49a

Draw the condensed structure of the compounds formed by condensation reactions between
a. benzoic acid and ethanol
Name the compound in each case.

Verified step by step guidance
1
Identify the functional groups involved in the condensation reaction: benzoic acid contains a carboxylic acid group (-COOH) and ethanol contains a hydroxyl group (-OH).
Understand that a condensation reaction between a carboxylic acid and an alcohol forms an ester and water. This is known as esterification.
Write the general reaction for esterification: R-COOH + R'-OH \(\rightarrow\) R-COOR' + H_2O.
Apply the specific reactants to the general reaction: Benzoic acid (C_6H_5COOH) reacts with ethanol (C_2H_5OH) to form the ester C_6H_5COOC_2H_5 and water.
Name the ester formed: The ester is named by combining the alkyl group from the alcohol (ethyl) with the acid part (benzoate), resulting in ethyl benzoate.

Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

Condensation Reactions

Condensation reactions involve the combination of two molecules to form a larger molecule, accompanied by the loss of a small molecule, often water. In organic chemistry, these reactions frequently occur between carboxylic acids and alcohols, leading to the formation of esters. Understanding this process is crucial for predicting the products of the reaction between benzoic acid and ethanol.
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Condensed Formula

Functional Groups

Functional groups are specific groups of atoms within molecules that are responsible for the characteristic chemical reactions of those molecules. In this case, benzoic acid contains a carboxylic acid group (-COOH), while ethanol contains a hydroxyl group (-OH). Recognizing these functional groups helps in identifying how they interact during the condensation reaction to form an ester.

Structural Formulas

Structural formulas represent the arrangement of atoms within a molecule, showing how they are bonded together. For the compounds formed in the reaction between benzoic acid and ethanol, drawing the condensed structure involves illustrating the ester linkage formed and the remaining parts of the original molecules. This visual representation is essential for understanding the molecular architecture of the resulting compound.
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