How would you synthesise an carboxylic acid just from a primary haloalkane like bromoethane?

Nucleophilic substitution using NaOH to convert haloalkane to primary alcohol. This is a mechanism that you need to know for the exam. Then oxidise the alcohol by refluxing with acidified potassium dichromate to form the carboxylic acid. Reflux needed because if it isn't heated enough, the aldehyde would form instead! Step 1 : RBr + NaOH --> ROH + NaBr Step 2 : ROH + 2[O] --> RCOOH + H2O

Answered by Ollie W. Chemistry tutor

3916 Views

See similar Chemistry A Level tutors

Related Chemistry A Level answers

All answers ▸

What are the special properties of graphite and diamond- why are they different.


Figure 1 shows a maxwell-Boltzmann distribution of molecular energies of a sample of gas at a fixed temperature. (a) Label the y axis. (b) On Figure 1, sketch a maxwell-Boltzmann distribution for the same sample of gas at a lower temperature.


What are Van Der Waals dispersion forces?


What chemical tests are appropriate to identify Butanoic acid, Propanal and 2-methyl propan-2-ol?


We're here to help

contact us iconContact usWhatsapp logoMessage us on Whatsapptelephone icon+44 (0) 203 773 6020
Facebook logoInstagram logoLinkedIn logo

© MyTutorWeb Ltd 2013–2025

Terms & Conditions|Privacy Policy
Cookie Preferences