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3-Methylbutanal is a compound that is found in low concentrations in many types of food - Scottish Highers Chemistry - Question 4 - 2018
Question 4
3-Methylbutanal is a compound that is found in low concentrations in many types of food. The structure of 3-methylbutanal is shown. (a) Draw a structural formula fo... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:3-Methylbutanal is a compound that is found in low concentrations in many types of food - Scottish Highers Chemistry - Question 4 - 2018
Step 1
(a) Draw a structural formula for a ketone that is an isomer of 3-methylbutanal.
Answer
A ketone that is an isomer of 3-methylbutanal can be represented as follows:
H O
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H--C--C--C--C--H
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H H
This structure corresponds to pentan-2-one or 3-methylbutanone, which is a valid ketone isomer.
Step 2
(b) Name a reagent which could be used to distinguish between 3-methylbutanal and a ketone.
Answer
Fehling's solution or Tollen's reagent can be used to distinguish between 3-methylbutanal (an aldehyde) and a ketone. Aldehydes will react with these reagents while ketones generally will not.
Step 3
Step 4
(d) Explain fully what can happen to 3-methylbutanal that will cause the olive oil to develop an unpleasant taste.
Answer
3-Methylbutanal can undergo oxidation when exposed to oxygen. This process forms various byproducts, potentially including carboxylic acids, which can impart undesirable flavors. The oxidation of 3-methylbutanal can lead to the formation of a carboxylic acid, which ultimately results in a rancid taste in olive oil. This transformation often occurs because of the reaction with oxygen or exposure to heat, leading to the degradation of the compound.
Step 5
(e) 3-Methylbutanal can be used as a reactant in the production of other compounds.
Answer
(i) Explain why step 1 is described as a condensation reaction.
Step 1 is described as a condensation reaction because it involves the joining of two reactants with the loss of a water molecule. Specifically, the reaction involves the formation of a bond between the reactants resulting in the elimination of water.
(ii) Give the systematic name for product A.
The systematic name for product A is 6-methylheptan-2-one.