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ReactionsThe only chemical reaction of carboxylate salts with which we will be concerned is their conversion to carboxylic acids, as shown below (and in Example 11 in your workbook).
The equation above shows the basic idea. However, if the reaction takes place in solution, the equation below does a better job of showing what happens.
It is not really the carboxylate salt that reacts, but rather the carboxylate ion. The reaction is simply an acid-base (or proton transfer) reaction in which the carboxylate ion is converted to its conjugate acid. And need I remind you that since carboxylic acids are weak and undergo dissociation, this reaction is actually an equilibrium reaction and how much of the ion will be converted to the acid will depend on the pH of the solution.
E-mail instructor: Sue Eggling Clackamas Community College |
