Contextualization

Carboxylic acids are organic compounds that have at least one carboxyl group in their structure. They are present in various substances in our daily lives, such as vinegar (acetic acid), aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid), and even in certain types of soaps.

The nomenclature of these acids is a fundamental topic in Organic Chemistry and is important for scientists to communicate and correctly describe these compounds. The correct nomenclature of carboxylic acids is essential for the identification and correct classification of these compounds.

Introduction to the topic

First, we need to understand what a carboxylic acid is. Carboxylic acid is a type of organic substance that has the -COOH functional group as a characteristic. The name of these acids is derived from Latin, where "carboxy" refers to carbon and "lico" to oil. This is because the first carboxylic acids isolated came from oils.

In IUPAC (International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry) nomenclature, carboxylic acid is named as acid + radical name + oic. In the usual nomenclature, which is more used in industry and in everyday life, the name of the carboxylic acid is the name of the radical + oic.

Relevance of the topic in everyday life

The study of carboxylic acids and their nomenclature is not limited to theoretical learning in the classroom. These compounds are present in our daily lives and are of great importance in the food, pharmaceutical, and cosmetics industries, among others. Their correct nomenclature is essential for the identification and formulation of many of these products.

Acetic acid, for example, is the main component of vinegar, and citric acid is found in most citrus fruits, and is widely used as a food preservative. On the other hand, long-chain carboxylic acids are important components of soaps and detergents.

Practical Activity

Title of the activity: Demystifying Carboxylic Acids Nomenclature

Project aim

The aim of this practical activity is to develop students' understanding of carboxylic acid nomenclature and how they are present in our daily lives. Students will research and identify carboxylic acids in everyday products, understand their applications, and present them in a fun and creative way.

Detailed project description

This project consists of three key steps:

1. Research and Identification: Students should research and identify carboxylic acids present in everyday products such as food, medicines, cosmetics, among others.

2. Understanding and Applications: Students should seek to understand the applications of these carboxylic acids in the products identified.

3. Presentation: Creation of a fun and creative presentation to demonstrate the knowledge acquired.

The activity will be divided into groups of 3 to 5 students, and the total work should take five to ten hours per participant to complete, with a deadline of one month.

Necessary materials

• Internet access for research.
• Everyday products containing carboxylic acids in their components (food, medicines, cosmetics, among others).
• Office supplies for creating the presentation (paper, colored pens, cardboard, etc.).
• Camera to document the work and presentation.

Detailed step by step to carry out the activity

1. Divide the class into groups of 3 to 5 students.
2. Students should research and identify carboxylic acids present in everyday products (food, medicines, cosmetics, among others), remembering to document the sources of their findings.
3. After identifying the carboxylic acids, students should research the applications and importance of these acids in the selected products.
4. With all the information gathered, each group should create a fun and creative presentation, using cardboard, drawings, or even creating a digital presentation.
5. Document the group's work process, including teamwork, difficulties encountered, and problem solving.
6. Present the work to the class at the end of the project.

Project deliverables

1. Document/Writing: After completing the practical activity, each group should write a report containing:

   • Introduction: The student should contextualize the theme, its relevance and application in the real world and the objective of this project.
   • Development: The student should explain the theory behind the central theme of the project, explain the activity in detail, indicate the methodology used and, finally, present and discuss the results obtained.
   • Conclusion: The student should conclude the work by summarizing their main points, explaining the lessons learned and the conclusions drawn about the project.
   • Bibliography: The student should indicate the sources they relied on to work on the project as books, web pages, videos, etc.

2. Presentation: The presentation created by the group must be submitted and will be part of the project evaluation. It should be a fun and creative demonstration presenting the carboxylic acids identified, their applications, and importance.

3. Video/Slides: In addition to presenting their work to the class, each group should prepare a digital presentation (a video or a set of slides) documenting the process of their work.

It is essential that the writing and the presentation are well related and complement each other. Writing should provide a solid and academic foundation, while the presentation should be a visual and creative representation of that writing.