Question

Write the structural formula of the ester formed by methyl alcohol with (a) formic acid. (b) acetic acid. (c) \(\mathrm{CH}_{3}-\left(\mathrm{CH}_{2}\right)_{6}-\mathrm{COOH} .\)

Short answer

The structural formulas of the esters formed by methyl alcohol with the given carboxylic acids are: (a) Methyl formate: \(\mathrm{HCOOCH}_{3}\) (b) Methyl acetate: \(\mathrm{CH}_{3}\mathrm{COOCH}_{3}\) (c) Methyl 8-oxooctanoate: \(\mathrm{CH}_{3}-\left(\mathrm{CH}_{2}\right)_{6}\mathrm{-COOCH}_{3}\).

Step-by-step solution

Understanding ester formation

Esters are organic compounds formed by the reaction between a carboxylic acid and an alcohol, known as esterification. In this reaction, the hydrogen atom from the hydroxyl group (-OH) of the carboxylic acid is replaced by the alkyl group of the alcohol. The general structure of an ester can be represented as \(\mathrm{R'}-\mathrm{COO}-\mathrm{R}\), where \(\mathrm{R'}\) is the alkyl group derived from the carboxylic acid and \(\mathrm{R}\) is the alkyl group derived from the alcohol.

Finding the structural formula of the ester with formic acid

Formic acid has the structural formula \(\mathrm{HCOOH}\). Since methyl alcohol has the structural formula \(\mathrm{CH}_{3}\mathrm{OH}\), we can form an ester by replacing the hydrogen atom in the hydroxyl group of the formic acid with the methyl group from the methyl alcohol. The resulting ester will have the structural formula \(\mathrm{HCOOCH}_{3}\).

Finding the structural formula of the ester with acetic acid

Acetic acid has the structural formula \(\mathrm{CH}_{3}\mathrm{COOH}\). We can form an ester by replacing the hydrogen atom in the hydroxyl group of the acetic acid with the methyl group from the methyl alcohol. The resulting ester will have the structural formula \(\mathrm{CH}_{3}\mathrm{COOCH}_{3}\).

Finding the structural formula of the ester with \(\mathrm{CH}_{3}-\left(\mathrm{CH}_{2}\right)_{6}-\mathrm{COOH}\)

The given carboxylic acid has the structural formula \(\mathrm{CH}_{3}-\left(\mathrm{CH}_{2}\right)_{6}-\mathrm{COOH}\). Again, we can form an ester by replacing the hydrogen atom in the hydroxyl group of the carboxylic acid with the methyl group from the methyl alcohol. The resulting ester will have the structural formula \(\mathrm{CH}_{3}-\left(\mathrm{CH}_{2}\right)_{6}\mathrm{-COOCH}_{3}\). In conclusion, the esters formed by methyl alcohol with the given carboxylic acids have the following structural formulas: (a) Methyl formate: \(\mathrm{HCOOCH}_{3}\) (b) Methyl acetate: \(\mathrm{CH}_{3}\mathrm{COOCH}_{3}\) (c) Methyl 8-oxooctanoate: \(\mathrm{CH}_{3}-\left(\mathrm{CH}_{2}\right)_{6}\mathrm{-COOCH}_{3}\)