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Why should esterification reactions NOT be carried out in water?
  • a)
    Carboxylic acids, from which esters are made, are generally insoluble in water.
  • b)
    The polar nature of water overshadows the polar nature of the leaving group.
  • c)
    The extensive hydrogen bonding of water interferes with the nucleophilic addition mechanism.
  • d)
    Water molecules would hydrolyze the desired products back into the parent carboxylic acid.
Correct answer is option 'D'. Can you explain this answer?
Most Upvoted Answer
Why should esterification reactions NOT be carried out in water?a)Carb...
The presence of water in an esterification would likely revert some of the desired esters back into carboxylic acids. Small carboxylic acids, like formic or acetic acid, are easily dissolved in water, eliminating choice (A). The polarity of water plays little role in affecting the leaving group; if anything, water can be used to increase the electrophilicity of the carbonyl carbon by protonating the carbonyl oxygen—eliminating choice (B). Finally, this is a nucleophilic substitution mechanism, not a nucleophilic addition mechanism, as mentioned in choice (C). Further, hydrogen bonding would likely augment the reaction.
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Why should esterification reactions NOT be carried out in water?a)Carboxylic acids, from which esters are made, are generally insoluble in water.b)The polar nature of water overshadows the polar nature of the leaving group.c)The extensive hydrogen bonding of water interferes with the nucleophilic addition mechanism.d)Water molecules would hydrolyze the desired products back into the parent carboxylic acid.Correct answer is option 'D'. Can you explain this answer?
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Why should esterification reactions NOT be carried out in water?a)Carboxylic acids, from which esters are made, are generally insoluble in water.b)The polar nature of water overshadows the polar nature of the leaving group.c)The extensive hydrogen bonding of water interferes with the nucleophilic addition mechanism.d)Water molecules would hydrolyze the desired products back into the parent carboxylic acid.Correct answer is option 'D'. Can you explain this answer? for MCAT 2024 is part of MCAT preparation. The Question and answers have been prepared according to the MCAT exam syllabus. Information about Why should esterification reactions NOT be carried out in water?a)Carboxylic acids, from which esters are made, are generally insoluble in water.b)The polar nature of water overshadows the polar nature of the leaving group.c)The extensive hydrogen bonding of water interferes with the nucleophilic addition mechanism.d)Water molecules would hydrolyze the desired products back into the parent carboxylic acid.Correct answer is option 'D'. Can you explain this answer? covers all topics & solutions for MCAT 2024 Exam. Find important definitions, questions, meanings, examples, exercises and tests below for Why should esterification reactions NOT be carried out in water?a)Carboxylic acids, from which esters are made, are generally insoluble in water.b)The polar nature of water overshadows the polar nature of the leaving group.c)The extensive hydrogen bonding of water interferes with the nucleophilic addition mechanism.d)Water molecules would hydrolyze the desired products back into the parent carboxylic acid.Correct answer is option 'D'. Can you explain this answer?.
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