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Polyprotic Acids03:38

Polyprotic Acids

Acids are classified by the number of protons per molecule that they can give up in a reaction. Acids such as HCl, HNO3, and HCN that contain one ionizable hydrogen atom in each molecule are called monoprotic acids. Their reactions with water are:
Leveling Effect and Non-Aqueous Acid-Base Solutions02:11

Leveling Effect and Non-Aqueous Acid-Base Solutions

This lesson defines the leveling effect in acidic and basic solutions and its role in aqueous and non-aqueous solutions. It is essential to understand the competing nature of various species in a chemical system.
The Leveling Effect of a Solvent
A generic acid (HA) reacts with the generic base (B-) to yield the corresponding conjugate base (A-) and conjugate acid (HB):
Reactions of Aldehydes and Ketones: Baeyer–Villiger Oxidation01:22

Reactions of Aldehydes and Ketones: Baeyer–Villiger Oxidation

Baeyer–Villiger oxidation converts aldehydes to carboxylic acids and ketones to esters. The reaction uses peroxy acids or peracids and is often catalyzed by acid. The reaction is named after its pioneers, Adolf von Baeyer and Victor Villiger. The reaction is achieved by a wide range of peracids such as m-chloroperoxybenzoic acid (mCPBA), perbenzoic acid (C6H5COOOH), peracetic acid (CH3COOOH), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), and tert-butyl hydroperoxide (t-BuOOH).
The carbonyl center is activated by...
Acidity of Carboxylic Acids01:21

Acidity of Carboxylic Acids

Carboxylic acids are the strongest organic acids. However, their acidic strength is much less than mineral acids like HCl. Carboxylic acids ionize in water and readily lose the hydroxyl proton to form a resonance-stabilized carboxylate ion.
Acid Halides to Carboxylic Acids: Hydrolysis01:01

Acid Halides to Carboxylic Acids: Hydrolysis

Hydrolysis of acid halides is a nucleophilic acyl substitution reaction in which acid halides react with water to give carboxylic acids. The reaction occurs readily and does not require acid or a base catalyst.
As shown below, the mechanism involves a nucleophilic attack by water at the carbonyl carbon to form a tetrahedral intermediate. This is followed by the reformation of the carbon–oxygen π bond along with the departure of a halide ion. A final proton transfer step yields carboxylic acid...
Reactions of Carboxylic Acids: Introduction01:41

Reactions of Carboxylic Acids: Introduction

Carboxylic acids possess an acidic –COOH functional group. The acidity can be attributed to the resonance stabilization of their conjugate base, wherein the negative charge is delocalized over both oxygen atoms.