Contextualization

Introduction

Carboxylic acids are substances that have a carboxylic functional group -COOH. They are polar organic compounds and have higher boiling points than hydrocarbons and analogous esters, due to their ability to form hydrogen bonds. They are commonly found in foods, plants and animals, medicines, among others.

The nomenclature of carboxylic acids is essential to identify and classify these compounds. Here are some rules: the name of the acid is derived from the corresponding hydrocarbon by replacing the "-o" ending of the hydrocarbon name with the "-ic" of the acid name, preceded by the determinant "acid". For acids with more than one carboxyl, we need to indicate the quantity by prefixes: dicarboxylic for two, tricarboxylic for three, etc.

In relation to IUPAC (International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry) nomenclature, priority should be given to the carboxylic functional group. Thus, the carboxyl carbon is considered carbon number 1 in the numbering of the main chain of the compound, and the name ends in "-oic", without the term "acid".

Importance of Carboxylic Acids

Carboxylic acids are essential in the chemical and pharmaceutical industries due to their acidic properties and their reactions. They are used in the manufacture of polymers, resins, plastics, detergents, medicines, perfumes, dyes, among others.

In the biological environment, carboxylic acids have several functions, such as protein synthesis and blood pH regulation. Long-chain carboxylic acids, essentially palmitic acid (C16) and stearic acid (C18), are the main components of animal fats and oils.

Practical Activity

Activity Title: Carboxylic Acid - Actionable Nomenclature

Project Objective:

This activity's main objective is to provide practical and fun learning about the nomenclature of carboxylic acids, promoting teamwork, research, and creativity.

Detailed Project Description:

Students will be divided into groups of 3 to 5. Each group will be responsible for researching different carboxylic acids, carrying out the nomenclature processes, and creating a visual representation (a poster, a digital presentation, a 3D model, etc.) that shows the nomenclature processes they learned. In addition, they must relate this to practical applications, demonstrating where these carboxylic acids can be found in everyday life.

Each group must present their work to the class at the end of the week, explaining what they learned during the process and answering questions from their classmates.

Required Materials:

• Research material (books, reliable websites);
• Material for creating the visual representation (paper, pens, craft materials, presentation software, etc.).

Detailed Step-by-Step:

1. Divide the class into groups of 3 to 5 students;
2. Each group must choose or be assigned to study different carboxylic acids;
3. Students will research their nomenclature, their properties, and where they are found in everyday life;
4. With the information collected, each group will create a visual representation showing the nomenclature process and the practical applications of the carboxylic acid studied;
5. At the end of the week, each group will present their work to the class, explaining what they learned and answering questions from their classmates.

Project Deliverables:

• Visual representation: Each group must deliver their visual representation on the day of presentation. It should clearly show the nomenclature process of the carboxylic acid studied and its practical applications.
• Written document: After the presentation, each group must deliver a written document containing an Introduction (contextualizing the theme and the project's objective), Development (explaining the theory of carboxylic acid nomenclature, detailing the activity carried out and presenting the results), Conclusions (reviewing important points, talking about what they learned, and concluding the project), and Bibliography (indicating the research sources used).

In the written document, the collaboration of all group members must be evident, indicating the role of each student in carrying out the project. Furthermore, the document should be well-organized, with clear and coherent ideas, making appropriate use of scientific language.

The written document and the visual representation will complement each other. The visual representation will show in a practical and visual way what was learned, while the written document will detail the theory and the learning process, providing a deep understanding of carboxylic acid nomenclature.