In: Chemistry
1. What two molecules are condensed to make an ester?
2.How does the carbon chain length affect a carboxylic acid’s strength?
The formation of ester is done by combining a caboxylic acid with an alcohol. The reaction is shown as follows
The answer to the next quedtion relates to the stabilty of conjagate base formed by an acid.
Higher the stability of conjugate base, higher is the acidity and vice versa.
The stability of conjugate base depends upon the inductive effect of chain.
Higher the chain length, larger is the inductive effect., lesser is the stability.
Hence acidic character of carboxylic acids decreases with chain length. The following image helps in understanding.