Introduction and Contextualization

Chemistry is present in almost everything around us. Every substance that makes up the world we live in is formed by atoms of one or more chemical elements. Esters, the topic we will approach in this project, are also fundamentally present in our daily lives. Let's understand a little more about them?

Esters are oxygenated organic compounds, that is, they have oxygen in their molecule. They are obtained from the reaction between a carboxylic acid and an alcohol, a reaction called esterification. Esters are characterized by having the functional group -COO-, with this oxygen being the bonding point between the carbon chain of the carboxylic acid and that of the alcohol.

The nomenclature of esters follows a specific rule: name of the alcohol radical + name of the carboxylic acid radical replacing the "oic" by "ate". This is one of the main topics that we will explore in this project, since understanding the nomenclature is essential to identify the structure and properties of these compounds.

Esters play a very important role in our daily lives, being present in several products that we use. Some fragrances of fruits and flowers, for example, are composed of esters. In addition, they are also present in materials such as plastics and rubbers.

In the medical field, esters also perform essential functions. Many drugs are formed by esters, which are also present in creams and lotions used for skin care. Therefore, the study and understanding of these compounds is of great relevance, both for the industry and for our daily lives.

To delve a little deeper into esters and their nomenclature, you can consult the following resources:

• Organic Chemistry - Vollhardt, K. Peter C.; Schore, Neil E. - 6th Edition
• Ester Nomenclature (Escola Brasil) - Click here to access
• Video "Esterification and nomenclature of esters - Prof. Paulo Valim" (YouTube) - Click here to watch

Practical Activity - "Unveiling Esters: From Nomenclature to Application"

Project Objective

This project challenges groups of students to identify the presence of esters in our daily lives, understand their nomenclature, and discover how their structure influences their characteristics and applications. In addition, the project aims to stimulate collaboration and teamwork, improving research, communication, and time management skills.

Detailed Project Description

Divided into three main parts, this project requires the collaboration of groups of 3 to 5 students and lasts approximately thirty hours (calculated for the working time of the entire group, that is, about 6 to 10 hours per student).

Part 1: Investigation and Presentation of Esters in Everyday Life

Students should research and identify at least five (5) everyday products that contain esters in their composition. Products can range from food and beverages, medicines, cosmetics to plastic materials. Students should include a photo of each product, its label (if any) where the ester(s) appear, and a brief description of the product.

Part 2: Understanding and Exemplification of Ester Nomenclature

For each ester found, students should describe its chemical structure, correctly name the ester according to the nomenclature rules, and explain in detail how they arrived at this nomenclature.

Part 3: Relationship of Ester Structure to its Properties and Applications

Students should investigate and explain how the structure of the ester found influences its properties and why this ester is used in the product in question. What are the characteristics that make it the ideal choice for this application?

Necessary Materials

• Internet access for research
• Camera to photograph the products found
• Notebook and pens for notes

Detailed Step-by-Step for Completing the Activity

1. Form groups of 3 to 5 students.
2. Conduct a survey to identify at least five products that contain esters in their composition.
3. Photograph each product and its label (if any) where the ester(s) appear.
4. For each product, write a brief description, explaining where and how the product is used.
5. For each ester found, draw the chemical structure and name it correctly.
6. Explain how you arrived at this nomenclature.
7. Investigate and explain how the structure of the ester influences its properties and why this ester is used in the product.
8. Prepare a report containing all the work done, as described in the 'Project Deliverables' section.

Project Deliverables

At the end of the project, students should prepare two main deliverables:

1. Presentation

Students should prepare a visual presentation (which can be a Powerpoint, Prezi, illustrated report, etc.) that shows the work done and the discoveries made.

2. Written Report

In addition to the visual presentation, students should prepare a written report. The report should contain the following topics:

• Introduction: In this section, students should contextualize the project, discuss the relevance of the topic and esters in our daily lives, and briefly describe the project's objective.

• Development: Here, students should present the theory about the nomenclature of esters with examples for illustration. They should carefully explain the methodology used, present the products in which they found esters, and explain the nomenclature and structure of each ester found. In addition, they should explain how the structure of the ester influences its properties and how this relates to its use in the products identified.

• Conclusion: In this section, students should conclude the work by summarizing their main points, explaining the lessons learned, and the conclusions drawn about the project.

• Bibliography: Students should list all sources of information used during the project, including books, web pages, videos, among others.