Sebacic acid (HOOC - (CH2) 8-COOH) is a naturally occurring dicarboxylic acid that is also found as a normal urinary acid. Which procedure should be followed to determine the amount of sebacic acid present in 200 mg of an unknown sample composed primarily of sebacic acid and a small percentage of neutral impurities?

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Alessandro

Chemistry

9 August, 14:43

Sebacic acid (HOOC - (CH2) 8-COOH) is a naturally occurring dicarboxylic acid that is also found as a normal urinary acid. Which procedure should be followed to determine the amount of sebacic acid present in 200 mg of an unknown sample composed primarily of sebacic acid and a small percentage of neutral impurities?

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Tommy · Answer 1

The Sebacic acid has strong hydrocarbon content which make it insoluble in water. Treating the unknown sample with a base for example NaOH will increase the solubility of the Sebacic acid because the carboxylic acid group will react with the base to form soluble ionic salt. The Sebacic acid is completely dissolved in the base

The resulting solution can be titrated with HCl until there is a color change signifying end of neutralization. The mole of NaOH present before the organic acid is noted, then after titration the mole of the HCl acid is subtracted from the initial mole of the base; this will give the carboxylates present in the solution.