Lesson Plan

Lesson : Carboxylic Acids (I)

Aim :

To study the nomenclature and acidic property of carboxylic acids.

Learning Outcomes :

By the end of the lesson, students will be able to :

• write the general structure for carboxylic acids

• give the IUPAC names of the carboxylic acids

• state the reactions that are used to prepare carboxylic acids

• compare the acidity of a carboxylic acid with that of alcohol and phenol

• predict the acidity of a substituted carboxylic acid.

Assumed prior knowledge :

Students should already be familiar with :

1. the basic rules in IUPAC nomenclature for alkanes

2. the structure and nomenclature of alcohols

3. the concept of hydrolysis.

Underlying Principles

1. Making the invisible, visible.

2. Enabling students to know what to look for.

Differentiation

Questions in the student notes are designed to enable all students to complete the activity.
The pop-up answers are provided for the students to view when they have considered their
responses. Worksheet questions include questions that require recall, understanding and
application of the new concepts learned.

© 2004 Ministry of Education Malaysia. All Rights Reserved. Page 1 of 4

Development of Lesson :

No. Steps Strategy Resources

1 Set Induction.
(Ascertaining prior • Teacher to get students to recall the
knowledge and oxidation reactions of alcohols.
introducing lesson • Teacher to point out lesson objectives of
topic for the day). the day.

2 Student Activity Teacher to go through Activities 1−3 with • Courseware

the students.

Activity 1 : Nomenclature

Students are taught the general structure

and nomenclature of carboxylic acids.

Activity 2 : Synthesis of carboxylic

acids

Students are shown how carboxylic acids

can be synthesised from the oxidation of
alcohols and the hydrolysis of nitriles.

Activity 3 : Acidity of carboxylic acids

Students get to compare the acidity of

alcohols, phenol and carboxylic acids.

3 Evaluation • Students to answer questions in the • Worksheet

student worksheet on their own.

4 Extension activity • Students to read up reference materials • References

on their own.

© 2004 Ministry of Education Malaysia. All Rights Reserved. Page 2 of 4

Worksheet Answers

1. Nomenclature

1.1 a. 2-Methylbutanoic acid

b. 2,2-Dimethylbutanoic acid
c. 2-Ethylpentanoic acid

1.2 a. Acetic acid

b. Formic acid
c. Oxalic acid
d. Benzoic acid

1.3 a. HOOCCH2COOH

b. CH3  CHCOOH

OH

c. COOH
OH

d. COOH

COOH

2. Synthesis of carboxylic acids

2.1 a. Oxidation
CH3CH2CH2OH and K2Cr2O7/H+ or KMnO4/H+

b. Oxidation
CH3CH2CHO and K2Cr2O7/H+ or KMnO4/H+

c. Acidic hydrolysis
CH3CH2CN and dilute HCl or H2SO4

© 2004 Ministry of Education Malaysia. All Rights Reserved. Page 3 of 4

3. Acidity of carboxylic acids

3.1 a.
NO2
O2N COOH, O2N COOH, Br COOH, CH3 COOH

b. i. 4.18 and 4.47

ii. 4.78 and 2.45
iii. 3.58 and 2.49
iv. 4.06 and 2.84

© 2004 Ministry of Education Malaysia. All Rights Reserved. Page 4 of 4