Module 4 Section 2: Alcohols, Haloalkanes and Analysis Flashcards
(121 cards)
What is IR Spectroscopy
In Infrared Spectroscopy a beam of IR radiation is passed through a sample of a chemical
The IR radiation is absorbed by the covalent bonds in the molecules, increasing their vibrational energy (they vibrate more)
Bonds between different atoms absorb different frequencies of IR radiation.
Bonds in different places in a molecule absorb different frequencies too - the OH bond in an alcohol and the OH bond in a carboxylic acid absorb different frequencies
What does an infrared spectrometer show
It produces a spectrum that shows you what frequencies (wavenumber) of radiation the molecules are absorbing
This can be used to identify the functional groups in a molecule
How to tell if the functional group has changed using an infrared spectrometer
This also means that you can tell if a functional group has changed during a reaction
e.g., if an alcohol is oxidised to form an aldehyde then the OH bond will disappear from the spectrum, and a C=O absorption will appear
If it is oxidise it further to a carboxylic acid an OH peak at a slightly lower frequency than before will appear, alongside the C=O peak
Uses of IR spectroscopy
Can be used in breathalysers to workout if a driver is over the drink-drive limit
The amount of ethanol vapour in the driver’s breath is found by measuring the intensity of the peak corresponding to the C-H bond in the spectrum.
The C-H bond in particular is used because it is not affected by any water vapour in the breath
IR spectroscopy is also used to monitor the concentrations of polluting gases in the atmosphere
These include carbon monoxide (CO) and nitrogen monoxide (NO), which are both present in car emissions
The intensity of the peaks corresponding to the C=O (should be triple bond) or N=O bonds can be studied to monitor their levels
What is the finger print region?
Below 1500cm^-1
The finger print region contain unique peeks used to identify the particular molecule using a computer or comparing with a booklet of published spectra.
It is difficult to identify functional groups in this region.
What is on the X and Y axis of a IR spectrum
X - wavenumber cm^-1
Y - transmittance(%) (can sometimes be absorption)
What is a haloalkane
This is an alkane with at least one halogen atom in place of a hydrogen atom
Examples of haloalkanes
Trichloromethane
2-iodo-propane
2-bromo-2-chloro-1,1,1trifluoroethane
What bond is polar in haloalkanes
Halogens are generally much more electronegative than carbon
So the carbon-halogen bond is polar
How do nucleophiles interact with haloalkanes
The δ+ carbon is electron deficient
This means it can be attacked by a nucleophile
What is a nucleophile
This is an electron pair donor
It could be a negative ion or an atom with a lone pair of electrons
It donates an electron pair to somewhere without enough electrons
Examples of nucleophiles
OH-, CN- and NH3
Water is a nucleophile but reacts slowly
How can haloalkanes be hydrolysed and what do they make
This forms alcohols
This is a nucleophilic substitution reaction
A warm aqueous alkali e.g. sodium hydroxide (NaOH) or potassium hydroxide (KOH) must be used
General equation
R-X + OH- —(reflux)-> R-OH + X-
Reaction mechanism for hydrolysis
OH- is the nucleophile which provides a pair of electrons for the δ+ Carbon
The C-X bond breaks heterolytically - bond electrons from the bond are taken by the X-
X- falls off as OH- bonds to the carbon
How does water act as a nucleophile
Water molecule is a weak nucleophile so reaction will be slower
General equation:
R-X + H2O = R-OH + H+ + X-
What affects how quickly haloalkanes are hydrolysed
Bond enthalpy
Weaker carbon-halogen bonds break more easily so they react faster
What haloalkane hydrolysed the fastest and slowest
Iodoalkanes havw the weakest bonds
Fluoroalkanes have the strongest bonds so they hydrolyse the slowest
Mechanism of the experiment to compare the reactivity of haloalkanes
Mixing haloalkanes with water makes an alcohol
R-X + H2O = R-OH + H+ + X-
Adding silver nitrate makes a silver halide precipitate as the silver ions react with t(e halide ions as soon as they form
Ag+ + X- = AgX
Experiment to compare the reactivity of haloalkanes
Set up three test tubes each containing a different haloalkane, ethanol (as the solvent) and silver nitrate solution (this contains the water)
Haloalkanes must have all the same skeleton structure to make it a fair test
A pale yellow precipitate quickly forms with 2-iodopropane - so iodoalkanes must be the most reactive haloalkanes
Bromoalkanes react slower to from a cream ppt and chloroalkanes form a white ppt slowest
When are practical techniques used in chemistry
Used during synthesis of a product, or to purify it from unwanted by-products or unreacted reagents once it’s been made
Why reflux used
Organic reactions are slow and substances are usually flammable and volatile (low boiling points)
If they are put in a beaker and heated with a Bunsen burner they will evaporate or catch fire before they have time to react
What happens during reflux
The mixture is heated in a flask fitted with a vertical Liebig condenser - this continuous boils, evaporates and condenses the vapours and recycles them back into the flask, giving them time to react
Why are heating elements electrical in reflux
Hot plates, heating mantles or electrically controlled water baths are normally used
This avoids naked flames that might ignite the compounds
When is distillation used
Used to separate substances with different boiling points