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Topic: Relationship between pKa and solvent choice  (Read 2196 times)

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Offline Luscious

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Relationship between pKa and solvent choice
« on: January 29, 2012, 08:17:30 PM »
Why water be a good choice of solvent for a compound with a pKa of 10 as opposed to a compound with a pKa of 16?

What would be a better choice of solvent for a compound with a higher pKa?


In relation to a Williamson Ether Synthesis.. starting with a phenol and dissolving it in KOH and water.... if I wanted to start with an alkyl alcohol instead.. what would I use?

Offline Vidya

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Re: Relationship between pKa and solvent choice
« Reply #1 on: January 30, 2012, 06:54:20 AM »
A high pKa means compound is very basic and can result in deprotonation of solvent

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