Ethanol, methylamine, and acetic acid are all amphoteric, reacting as either acids or | StudySoup

Textbook Solutions for Organic Chemistry

Chapter 2 Problem PROBLEM 2-11

Question

Ethanol, methylamine, and acetic acid are all amphoteric, reacting as either acids or bases depending on the conditions. ethanol CH3CH2OH methylamine CH3NH2 acetic acid CH3 C OH O (a) Rank ethanol, methylamine, and acetic acid in decreasing order of acidity. In each case, show the equation for the reaction with a generic base (B:-) to give the conjugate base. (b) Rank ethanol, methylamine, and acetic acid in decreasing order of basicity. In each case, show the equation for the reaction with a generic acid (HA) to give the conjugate acid.

Solution

PROBLEM 2-11

Ethanol, methylamine, and acetic acid are all amphoteric, reacting as either acids or bases depending on the conditions. ethanol CH3CH2OH methylamine CH3NH2 acetic acid CH3 C OH O (a) Rank ethanol, methylamine, and acetic acid in decreasing order of acidity. In each case, show the equation for the reaction with a generic base (B:-) to give the conjugate base. (b) Rank ethanol, methylamine, and acetic acid in decreasing order of basicity. In each case, show the equation for the reaction with a generic acid (HA) to give the conjugate acid.

                                                             Step by step solution

Step 1 of 2

a)

Due to the resonance stabilisation of the negative charge formed on the oxygen atom, carboxylic acids are stronger acids than alcohols. Amines are basic in nature.

The decreasing order of acidity of the molecules under consideration is as follows.

                                       

The acidic reactions of the molecules under consideration are shown below.

                                   

                                 

                                 

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full solution

Title Organic Chemistry 9 
Author Leroy G. Wade, Jan W. Simek
ISBN 9780321971371

Ethanol, methylamine, and acetic acid are all amphoteric, reacting as either acids or

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