36.0k views
1 vote
How can a mixture of organic compounds with acidic and basic functional groups that are initially in the organic layer, be induced to enter the aqueous layer?

User Iran
by
7.3k points

1 Answer

3 votes

Final answer:

To move organic compounds with acidic and basic functional groups from the organic to the aqueous layer, acid-base reactions are used to alter their charge state and increase solubility. Carboxylic acids become more water-soluble when deprotonated, while bases form ammonium salts upon protonation. The inductive effect can further influence this process by altering molecule electronegativity.

Step-by-step explanation:

To induce a mixture of organic compounds with acidic and basic functional groups that are initially in the organic layer to enter the aqueous layer, you can explain the process as a manipulation of their solubility through acid-base reactions. In the case of organic acids like carboxylic acids, they can be made more polar and hence more water-soluble by deprotonation with a base, converting them into their carboxylate form. Similarly, organic bases, such as amines, can be protonated with an acid, making them into ammonium salts, which are more soluble in water.

For example, when a carboxylic acid is dissolved in water, it can undergo an acid-base reaction where it donates its proton to form a carboxylate anion. This ion is more hydrophilic due to its charge and can readily dissolve in the aqueous phase. The inductive effect explains how the electron-withdrawing or donating nature of substituents can affect the acidity or basicity of molecules, further influencing their solubility in different layers.

With substances that shift pH, organisms, such as humans, adjust by utilizing biological buffers. These buffers maintain a stable internal environment, allowing for the ingestion of substances with different pH levels. For compounds to move from the organic to the aqueous layer, the key is to adjust their charge state to favor water solubility.

User SalGad
by
8.7k points