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Organic Nitrogen Compounds Worksheet 3 (Amides)

1 (a) What is the functional group of amides?
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(b) Write the general formula of amides

(c) Describe by writing an equation how can ethanamide be prepared in the lab?
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(d) How can we prepare a substituted amide in the lab? Write an equation for the formation
of N-ethylethanamide.
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(e) What would you observe in both of the above reactions?
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2 Unlike amines amides are not bases. Solutions of amides are neutral.
(a) Explain the above statement.
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(b) How are amides hydrolyzed? State the possible reagents and conditions
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(c) Describe the acid hydrolysis of ethanamide and write an equation for the reaction
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(d) Write a general equation for this reaction
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(e) Describe the alkaline hydrolysis of ethanamide and write an equation for the reaction
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(f) How can the carboxylic acid be liberated from the product formed in (e)?
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(g) Write an equation for the alkaline hydrolysis of N-ethylethanamide
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(h) How can you obtain a carboxylic acid from the product in the above reaction?
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(i)

Name the acid formed in (h)

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What are amino acids?

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Draw the general structure of a 2- amino carboxylic acid

Why has it been named as 2-amino carboxylic acid?

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Write the general structural formula of a 2-amino carboxylic acid

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All amino acids except 2- amino ethanoic acid contain an asymmetric carbon atom. What kind of
isomerism are they likely to show ? Using the general formula of a 2- amino carboxylic acid show
how they exhibit this type of isomerism?

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Comment on the acid- base nature of amino acids

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Amino acids exist as Zwitterions. Explain the meaning of this term

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Show by means of half equations how amino acids form zwitterions?

11 What is the charge on a zwitterion? Explain why?

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What is the physical state of amino acids at room temperature and pressure? Comment on the
melting points and solubility of amino acids

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13 Amino acid solutions resist any changes in pH when small amounts of acid or alkali are added to
them. What are such solutions called?
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(i)

Show by means of an equation the changes that will occur

on adding a small amount of an acid to the solution of an amino acid

(ii)

on adding a small amount of an alkali to the solution of an amino acid

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Show the three forms in which amino acids may exist depending on the pH of the solution

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How does a peptide bond form? What type of reaction occurs?

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Show the mechanism for the formation of a peptide bond

18 What is a polypeptide? How does it form?

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19 What are proteins? How are proteins formed?
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20 Describe how the proteins may be hydrolyzed in the lab