Organic Chemistry I

Table 2.7 Solubility of different alcohols in water
For organic compounds that are water
insoluble
, they can sometimes be converted to the “salt derivative” via a proper
reaction, and thus can become water soluble. This method is used commonly in labs for the separation of organic
compounds.
Example:
Figure 2.6i Convert insoluble organic compound to the soluble salt derivative
80 | 2.6 Intermolecular Force and Physical Properties of Organic Compounds

---

Applying acid-base reactions is the most common way to achieve such purposes. As shown in the above example,
by adding a strong base to the benzoic acid, an acid-base reaction occurs and benzoic acid is converted to its salt,
sodium benzoate, which is water soluble (because of the ion-dipole force as we learned earlier). The benzoic acid can
therefore be brought into water (aqueous) phase, and separated from other organic compounds that do not have similar
properties.
2.6 Intermolecular Force and Physical Properties of Organic Compounds | 81

---

Answers to Practice Questions Chapter 2
2.1
Draw all the constitutional isomers with a formula of C
7
H
16
2.2
Draw all the constitutional isomers that include C=O bond with formula C
5
H
10
O.
82 | Answers to Practice Questions Chapter 2

---

CHAPTER 3 ACIDS AND BASES: ORGANIC
REACTION MECHANISM INTRODUCTION
Acids and bases are topics that we are familiar with in first year General Chemistry courses. In this Chapter, we will
first review the basic concepts of acids and bases, then apply those concepts into the context of organic chemistry. We
will learn how to understand organic reactions from the perspective of acids and bases, and take a detailed look at the
organic reaction in terms of their reaction mechanisms.
Chapter 3 Acids and Bases: Organic Reaction Mechanism
Introduction | 83

---

---

3.1 Review of Acids and Bases and Ka
The most commonly applied definition of acids and bases is the Brønsted-Lowry definition:
•