Esterfication
Carboxylic acid reacts with alcohol to form ester and water. Carried out under reflux.
Equilibrium
When the forwards and backwards rate of reaction is the same and remains at a constant rate, resulting in constant concentrations of reactants and products.
Catalyst
Substance that alters the rate of chemical reaction but is not used up in the reaction.
Salt
Ionic compound frequently made by neutralisation.
Acid
Proton donor / electron pair acceptor
Base
Proton acceptor / electron pair donor
Hydrolysis
Reaction of a compound or ion with water.
Hydrophobic
Non polar and repels water
Hydrophilic
Polar and attracted to water
Anion
Negatively charged ion formed when an atom gains one or more electrons.
Alkyl chain
CnH2n+1
Surfactant
Amphiphilic molecules with a hydrophobic head and hydrophobic tail, used to lower the surface tension of liquids.
Soap
Carboxylate salts of long chain carboxylic acids.
Has a long chain hydrophobic tail which can interact with grease and a hydrophilic head which interacts with water.
Fatty acid
Long chain carboxylic acid
Triglyceride
Ester formed between glycerol and 3 fatty acids
Glycerol
C3H8O3
Can form ester bonds with carboxyl group in fatty acids during a condensation reaction to form triglycerides.
Fat / lipid
Non polar and made up of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen eg triglycerides and phospholipids.
Saponification
Hydrolysis of fatty acids in alkaline conditions to form the salts of fatty acids: soaps.
Micelle
