K2CO3 is an excellent drying agent for some classes of organic compounds. would it be a better choice for an acid (RCO2H)or an amine(RNH2)? why?
i know this is RNH2. could it be explained that potassium carbonate itself is basic so it will make water and a salt if mixed with acid. would this work as an explaination?
I forgot to mention that CO2 is produced from the CO3^- also. Actually, the reaction produces H2CO3 which then breaks down into CO2 and H2O. The other product is the salt (K salt) of the organic acid as you mention.
Yes. Acids react with bases (K2CO3) to produce, as you say, a salt + H2O. K2CO3 will not react with an amine.
Thank you soo much for all of your help!!!
Hey could you please help me. Why would K2CO3 be a better drying agent than Na2SO4 when drying out water from cyclohexanol?
Yes, your explanation is correct! Potassium carbonate (K2CO3) is a basic compound, meaning it has the ability to accept protons (H+) from acids. When K2CO3 reacts with an acid (RCO2H), it forms water (H2O) and the corresponding salt (RCO2K).
In the case of drying agents, the primary goal is to remove moisture or water from the desired organic compound. When K2CO3 is used as a drying agent, it reacts with the acid (RCO2H) to form water, thus removing the water content from the organic compound. The resulting salt (RCO2K) usually remains as a solid and can be easily separated from the organic compound.
However, K2CO3 is not an ideal drying agent for amines (RNH2), as these compounds are basic themselves. Amines can react with K2CO3, resulting in the formation of water and the corresponding salt, similar to the reaction with acids. However, this reaction can also cause the amine to undergo further undesired reactions, leading to the formation of unwanted byproducts.
Therefore, K2CO3 may not be the best choice for drying amines, as it can potentially lead to side reactions and affect the purity or yield of the desired organic compound. In such cases, alternative drying agents specifically designed for drying amines, such as molecular sieves or calcium chloride, may be more suitable.