Saponification (sapo-“soap”)

-is the art and chemistry of making soaps from the hydrolysis of fat and oil to yield
alcohol and crude soap. The alkali breaks the ESTER bond and releases the fatty
acid salt and alcohol.

-in the laboratory experiment, two types of chemical reactions have been observed:

A. Base Hydrolysis of Esters

B. Base Hydrolysis of Amides

Chemical Equations:

A. Base Hydrolysis of Esters (-COO- )

B. Base Hydrolysis of Amides89?+

*red litmus paper turned blue on ACETAMIDE due to the presence of ammonia
Reaction of red litmus paper
Triethylamine Blue
Acetamide Blue
Unknown Blue
(weak base)

-nitrogen atom in the molecule has a lone pair making it a proton acceptor
Importance of amide and ester links:

Basically, hydrolysis of esters in basic solutions like sodium hydroxide will

bring about the formation of crude soap which is very important in our everyday life
for their cleaning purposes.

On the other hand, the importance of amides in the medical field are its
barbiturate, analgesic, and anti-diarrheal properties. The rumored drug sedative
that took the life of The King of Pop is a sedative. Loperamide Diatabs and
Immodium are other good examples of amides.

The links are used to divide the equation to the ester part and the alcohol
part, this also goes with the identification of the amide part

Preparation of Esters and Amides:

The preparation of the both types of organic compounds can be done in

several manners:

Esters

• Esterification

• Making esters using acyl chlorides (acid chlorides)

• Making esters using acid anhydrides

Amides

• Amidation

-an amide is produced in a reaction called amidation, in which a carboxylic acid

reacts with ammonia or a primary or secondary amine. A molecule of water is
eliminated, and the fragments of the carboxylic acid and amine molecules join to
form the amide, much like the formation of ester. Because a hydrogen atom atom
must be lost from the amines, only and secondary amines undergo amidation.

ANSWER TO STUDY GUIDE QUESTION:

2. Give an equation that will help illustrate the principle involved in the
saponification of an amide. How can this test help differentiate these neutral
compounds from other water-insoluble organic substances?

-unlike other water-insoluble organic substances, saponification of an amide

releases ammonia which is very distinct for its pungent and urine like smell.

Bibliography

A. Books

o Timberlake, K.C. (2007). General, Organic and Biological Chemistry. Singapore:

Pearson Education South Asia Pte Ltd.

B. Website

o http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/Esterification

o http://www.chemguide.co.uk/organicprops/esters/preparation.html