April 19, 2024, 12:51:35 AM
Forum Rules: Read This Before Posting


« previous next »
Pages: [1]   Go Down

Topic: Why is salicylic acid solid at room temp while methyl salicylate is liquid?  (Read 18212 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline KSUPaintballa

  • New Member
  • **
  • Posts: 7
  • Mole Snacks: +0/-0
Why is salicylic acid solid at room temp while methyl salicylate is liquid?
« on: April 19, 2010, 12:03:12 PM »
I have to answer this question for my lab.  I'm thinking that there is electron delocalization in the carboxylic acid group of salicylic acid and this stabilizes the molecule, where as in methyl salicylate there is less delocalization of electrons because the methyl group is electron donating.  Any help you could provide would be much appreciated!

Thanks!
Matthew
Logged

Offline MissPhosgene

  • Chemist
  • Full Member
  • *
  • Posts: 364
  • Mole Snacks: +23/-5
  • Gender: Female
Re: Why is salicylic acid solid at room temp while methyl salicylate is liquid?
« Reply #1 on: April 19, 2010, 07:08:48 PM »
Think H-bonding and you will get it.
Logged
Stereograms of the 32 crystallographic point groups: little bike wheels of cold, hard, pure rationality.

Offline KSUPaintballa

  • New Member
  • **
  • Posts: 7
  • Mole Snacks: +0/-0
Re: Why is salicylic acid solid at room temp while methyl salicylate is liquid?
« Reply #2 on: April 20, 2010, 02:20:43 PM »
ok, so I'm not getting it.  Does salicylic acid hydrogen bond to other salicylic acid molecules, and that's why it is solid at room temp?
Logged

Offline MissPhosgene

  • Chemist
  • Full Member
  • *
  • Posts: 364
  • Mole Snacks: +23/-5
  • Gender: Female
Re: Why is salicylic acid solid at room temp while methyl salicylate is liquid?
« Reply #3 on: April 20, 2010, 08:13:14 PM »
Yes. The carbonyl of a carboxylic acid is a hydrogen bond acceptor and the -OH of a carboxylic acid is a hydrogen bond donor. 
Logged
Stereograms of the 32 crystallographic point groups: little bike wheels of cold, hard, pure rationality.
Pages: [1]   Go Up
« previous next »
Sponsored Links