Ester Lab

Scratch and sniff an introduction to organic chemical reactions. A creative lesson has individuals study the esters commonly used in scratch-and-sniff stickers and advertisements. Following the lab procedure, scholars create the organic...

How quickly do enzymatic reactions occur? Assist the class as they examine heat and pH change to determine the rate of chemical reactions using catalase as an enzyme. Watch them "glow" with excitement!

Sal presents the situation of a solution of a carboxylic acid (such as heptanoic acid) with an alcohol (ethanol) in the presence of a sulfuric acid catalyst. He explains the esterification process.

Fats and oils often contain esters, which sometimes find their way into perfumes due to their pleasant smells. Scholars match the name of esters made from four different types of alcohol and four different types of carboxylic acids....

What do ants, wine, and rhubarb have in common? They all contain carboxylic acids! Introduce your organic chemistry class to this common class of useful molecules with a brief video. The narrator also discusses uses of carboxylic acids,...

Tenth graders distinguish between acids and bases. In this pH lesson, 10th graders view a PowerPoint and discuss the characteristics of an acid and a base. They investigate natural substances to determine the pH level of each.

She threw sodium chloride at me—that's a salt! Scholars match acids to their formulas as well as their salt compounds. Completing a series of three gridlock puzzles reinforces each of the matches in a logical manner.

Ethanol, a grain alcohol, reduces emissions and conserves petroleum when mixed into gasoline. Four puzzles challenge pupils to match alcohols to their structural formulas, types of alcohol, and full oxidation products. Each puzzle...

A video lecture showing the general reaction to form nitrate esters from alcohol. [6:07]

Learn how to prepare a primary or secondary alcohol from an aldehyde, ketone, carboxylic acid, or ester using lithium aluminum hydride. [11:17]