Organic chem (reaction)

anpanman SG

Hi. I have one question which I need help in.

An organic compound X reacts with aqueous NaOH to give a compound with the formula C4H7O2K. What is compound X?

1. Proponol

2. Butanol

3. Propanoic acid

4. Butanoic acid

I think it is butanoic acid and the reactants are C3H7COOH and water. Please verify. Thanks! (:

dkcx SG

C4H7O2K?

Why reaction with NaOH gives u K instead of Na? Typo?

Anyway you are correct since organic acids react with bases to give you sodium butanoate in this case.

The reactant is ONLY the acid. Water is formed together with the product.

UltimaOnline SG

Correct.

Proton transfer from carboxylic acid to hydroxide anion, forming water.

Deprotonated conjugate base form of butanoic acid CH3CH2CH2COOH is the butanoate anion CH3CH2CH2COO-, counterbalanced by the metal spectator cation (introduced in the form of the alkali), eg. Na+ or K+.