Annie Termaat and Christopher Talbot Solutions for Chapter: Does Organic Chemistry Mean We Can Make Any Substance We Want?, Exercise 21: SOME SUMMATIVE PROBLEMS TO TRY

Outline an experimental approach that could demonstrate the complete combustion of hydrocarbons results in the formation of carbon dioxide and water.

Explain why methanol, ethanol, propan-$1$-ol and butan-$1$-ol are all highly soluble in water, but pentan-$1$-ol is far less soluble and decan-$1$-ol is almost insoluble at $25 °\mathrm{C}$.

Methanol, ethanol, propan-$1$-ol and butan-$1$-ol are all highly soluble in water, but pentan-$1$-ol is far less soluble and decan-$1$-ol is almost insoluble at $25 °\mathrm{C}$.

A fresh ball of cotton wool is dipped into each of the alcohols listed above and rubbed across a piece of dark paper to produce a series of six ‘wet marks’. Predict, with reasons, the order in which the marks will evaporate to dryness.

Ethanedioic acid (commonly known as oxalic acid) is a poisonous substance found in rhubarb leaves. It has the following structural formula:

Suggest why ethanedioic acid is described as a dibasic acid in an aqueous solution.

Ethanedioic acid (commonly known as oxalic acid) is a poisonous substance found in rhubarb leaves. It has the following structural formula:

Deduce the molecular and empirical formulas of ethanedioic acid.

Ethanedioic acid (commonly known as oxalic acid) is a poisonous substance found in rhubarb leaves. It has the following structural formula:

Formulate an equation showing the neutralization of ethanedioic acid by barium hydroxide solution.

Ethanedioic acid (commonly known as oxalic acid) is a poisonous substance found in rhubarb leaves. It has the following structural formula:

Suggest why aluminium saucepans become shiny and clean after stewing with rhubarb leaves.

Ethanedioic acid (commonly known as oxalic acid) is a poisonous substance found in rhubarb leaves. It has the following structural formula:

Suggest a name for the salt formed between ethanedioic acid and potassium carbonate. Formulate the equation for the reaction.