SATURATED ALIPHATIC MONOBASIC ACIDS

SATURATED ALIPHATIC MONOBASIC ACIDS Saturated aliphatic acids may be prepared — 

By oxidation of primary alcohols with alkaline potassium permanganate solution or with a dichromate and dilute sulphuric add, for example  

The oxidation with excess of dichromate and dilute sulphuric acid is not always satisfactory for alcohols higher than n propyl because of the attendant production of appreciable amounts of esters indeed by using a fairly high concentration of sulphuric add, good yields of esters are obtained since esterification takes place at once, even in the cold, as long as an excess of alcohol is present, for example  

By oxidation of aldehydes with potassium permanganate solution, for example  

By hydrolysis of alkyl cyanides (or nitriles) with alkali hydroxide solutions, for example  

3C6H13 CHO + 2KMn04 + HjSO — 3C H13 COOH + K2S04+2Mn02+H20 

3C H CH0 +2KMn04 +H,iS04 — 3C,Hi3 COOH -f-K8S04+2Mn08-fH80 n-Heptaldehyde n-Heptoic acid 

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A term applied to the whole group of saturated and unsaturated monobasic aliphatic carboxylic acids. See Oleic Acid and Stearic Acid. 

Fatty acids. A general term for the group of saturated and unsaturated monobasic aliphatic carboxylic acids with hydrocarbon chains ranging from 6 to 22 carbons. The name derives from the original source of such materials, namely, animal and vegetable fats and oils. 

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