Carboxylic acids and derivatives (AS): Practice Questions

Which set of reagents and conditions is required to convert propanenitrile, \(\text{CH}_3\text{CH}_2\text{CN}\), into propanoic acid, \(\text{CH}_3\text{CH}_2\text{COOH}\)?

Consider the reaction of propanoyl chloride with ethanol. Which statement correctly describes the mechanism and the organic product formed?

Ethyl ethanoate is heated under reflux with dilute hydrochloric acid. What are the products of this reaction?

Compound X has the molecular formula \(\text{C}_4\text{H}_7\text{ClO}\). It reacts vigorously with water to produce Compound Y (\(\text{C}_4\text{H}_8\text{O}_2\)) and white fumes of \(\text{HCl}\). Compound Y reacts with \(\text{PCl}_5\) to regenerate X. When X reacts with methanol, Compound Z is formed. What is the IUPAC name for Compound Z?

Consider the following compounds:

Compound W: Ethanol
Compound X: Phenol
Compound Y: Ethanoic acid
Compound Z: Water

Which of these compounds is the strongest acid?

Compare the relative acidities of ethanoic acid, \(CH_3COOH\), and 2-chloropropanoic acid, \(CH_3CHClCOOH\). Explain the difference by referring to the inductive effect of the substituent group.

Arrange the following three compounds in order of decreasing ease of hydrolysis: benzoyl chloride, (chloromethyl)benzene, and chlorobenzene. Briefly justify the position of chlorobenzene in your sequence.

State the observations when methanoic acid, \(HCOOH\), is warmed with Tollens' reagent and explain why this specific carboxylic acid gives a positive result while propanoic acid does not.