Introduction

Relevance of the Theme

Organic chemistry, as the study of carbon compounds, is fundamental for understanding life at a microscopic level. Within this discipline, organic salts play a crucial role as versatile and easily manipulable compounds. Their presence is evident not only in chemistry laboratories but also in our daily lives, found in personal hygiene products, food, and medicines.

Organic compounds are formed by the union of carbon atoms with other elements. When this union is established with an electronegative element, such as a halogen (chlorine, fluorine, bromine, iodine), an organic salt is formed. Therefore, understanding the characteristics, properties, and reactions of these compounds is an important step in understanding organic chemistry.

Contextualization

Within the vast field of organic chemistry, the study of organic salts occupies a prominent position in the close connection between theoretical and applied chemistry. This theme is part of the topic of 'Organic Functions', which also includes hydrocarbons, alcohols, aldehydes, ketones, carboxylic acids, esters, ethers, amines, and amides.

Organic salts are an extension of the study of carboxylic acids, as they arise from their neutralization with bases. This process is known as an acid-base neutralization reaction and gives rise, as a product, to water and an organic salt. With this integrated view, it becomes evident that understanding organic salts is crucial to comprehend the totality of organic functions.

Thus, by focusing on organic salts, we are integrating previous concepts (carboxylic acids, bases, ionic dissociation) and laying the groundwork for future concepts, such as titration and complex formation, which are possible thanks to the ionic properties of salts.

Theoretical Development

Components

• Definition of Organic Salts: Organic salts are compounds formed by a neutralization reaction between an organic acid and an organic or inorganic base. Organic salts have a cation from the base and an anion from the acid. The cations and anions are formed by the ionization of the original compounds in the formation reaction of the organic salt.

• Organic Acids and Organic Bases as Precursors of Organic Salts: The chemical structure and properties of organic salts depend on the characteristics of the acids and bases that give rise to them. Organic acids are compounds that contain the carboxyl functional group (-COOH), which is a source of hydrogen ions (H+). Organic bases have the ability to donate a pair of electrons, such as primary amines (NH2-R) or hydroxyl (OH-R). When these two compounds react, there is a transfer of protons from the carboxyl to the electron-donating group of the base, producing an organic salt.

• Structure of Organic Salts: The structure of organic salts is formed by the base cation linked to the acid anion through an ionic bond. Although organic salts are ionic due to the presence of the ionic bond, they are generally crystalline solids with relatively low melting points.

• Nomenclature of Organic Salts: The nomenclature of organic salts is derived from the names of the acid and base of origin, using the same principles of inorganic salt nomenclature. The name of the base cation is added to the beginning of the acid anion's name, followed by the word 'de' and then the acid's name.

Key Terms

• Organic Salt: Compound resulting from the neutralization reaction between an organic acid and an organic or inorganic base. It has a cation from the base and an anion from the acid.

• Organic Acid: Compound that contains the carboxyl functional group (-COOH). It is a source of hydrogen ions (H+) in neutralization reactions.

• Organic Base: Compound that donates a pair of electrons in neutralization reactions, such as primary amine (NH2-R) or hydroxyl (OH-R).

• Nomenclature of Organic Salts: Process of naming organic salts, consisting of adding the name of the base cation to the beginning of the acid anion's name, followed by the word 'de' and the acid's name.

Examples and Cases

• Sodium acetate salt: It is an organic salt formed from the neutralization of acetic acid (CH3COOH) with sodium hydroxide (NaOH). Its chemical formula is C2H3O2Na.

• Ammonium acetate salt: Another example of an organic salt formed from the neutralization of acetic acid, but in this case, with ammonium hydroxide (NH4OH). Its chemical formula is C2H3O2NH4.

• Properties of Organic Salt: Due to their ionic structure, organic salts are crystalline solids at room temperature. They have relatively low melting points and great solubility in water. Additionally, they are good conductors of electricity when in aqueous solution or molten state, but not in the solid state.

• Use of Organic Salts: Organic salts have a wide range of practical applications, from the food industry, where they are used as preservatives and colorants, to the pharmaceutical industry, where they can be used as buffering agents and pH regulators.

Delving further into the topic, it will be possible to explore the properties and reactivity of organic salts, leading us to a more complete and comprehensive understanding of the chemistry of carbon compounds.

Detailed Summary

Key Points

• Organic Compounds: Compounds formed by the union of carbon atoms with other elements, essential for life at a microscopic level.

• Organic Salts: Result from the reaction of an organic acid with an organic or inorganic base. They are ionic, having a cation from the base and an anion from the acid.

• Structure of Organic Salts: Formed by an ionic bond between the base cation and the acid anion. They are generally crystalline solids with low melting points.

• Nomenclature: Derived from the names of the acid and base of origin, following the same rules of inorganic salt nomenclature.

• Examples: Sodium acetate (C2H3O2Na) and ammonium acetate (C2H3O2NH4) are examples of organic salts formed by the neutralization of acetic acid with sodium hydroxide and ammonium hydroxide, respectively.

Conclusions

• Organic Salts are fundamental in Organic Chemistry, linking concepts of acids, bases, and neutralization reactions.

• The structure and properties of organic salts depend on the originating acids and bases, demonstrating the complexity and richness of possible compounds within this theme.

• The nomenclature of organic salts follows the same rules as inorganic salts, facilitating the identification of these compounds.

• Organic salts have a broad spectrum of practical applications, from the food industry to the pharmaceutical industry.

Exercises

1. Write the balanced chemical equations for the formation of the following organic salts: ammonium formate, sodium propionate, and potassium butyrate.

2. Name the products of the following acid-base reactions: propanoic acid + sodium hydroxide; lactic acid + ammonia.

3. In an experiment, two different organic salts were formed from the same organic acid, but with different bases. What are the possible bases used? Justify.