1. Would you expect ibuprofen to be soluble or insoluble in 1.0 M NaOH?

Question

Explain.

2. Thymol is very slightly soluble in water and very soluble in 1.0 M NaOH. Explain.

Any info. would help!

Below are two web pages. The first shows ibuprofen has a -COOH group which makes it an acid and that should be soluble in NaOH. The second shows a phenol group on the benzene ring and that should be acidic also. That also will dissolve in NaOH.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ibuprofen
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thymol

Answer 1

Ibuprofen is a carboxylic acid. It will react with the NaOH to for the sodium salt of the carboxylic acid. The salt is typically soluble in water.

X-COOH + NaOH = X-COO-Na+ + H2O

So it will dissolve in a strongly alkaline solution and precipitate out when you add acid

Answer 2

yes