Question

2. What reaction occurs when sodium hydroxide is added to the stearic acid in cyclohexane and water? How does this change the solubility of cyclohexane in water? Does HCl reverse this reaction and if so why? Does sodium chloride have the same type of behavior as stearic acid or is it different? Explain why these two solutes are the same or different.

Answer 1

Hey there!:

Stearic acid is converted into the sodium salt wich is water soluble.

Stearic acid is a weak acid so the addition of HCl will regenerate cyclohexane soluble stearic acid.

The sodium chloride will stay in the water phase only.

Since stearic acid can be made ionic or molecular it differs from salt which can be only ionic.

Hope this helps!

Answer 2

Part A. Neutralization reaction.

Part B. The solubility will decrease.

Part C. Yes, it does. (See explanation below).

Part D. They have different behavior. (See explanation below).

Step-by-step explanation:

Part A. Stearic acid is an acid, and sodium hydroxide is a base, so, they will react to form a salt and water, which is a neutralization reaction.

Part B. Because more water is formed in the reaction, there'll be more solvent to the solute cyclohexane, but a new solute will be formed the salt. Thus, although the presence of more solvent, the solubility will decrease because of the presence of the other solute.

Pat C. HCl is a strong acid, and the sal was formed by a strong base (sodium hydroxide), thus the salt must react with the strong acid.

Part D. The sodium chloride is a salt, which is an ionic compound, and the stearic acid is an acid, which can be ionic or covalent. Because they have different inorganic functions, they must behave differently.