Question

Draw the major organic product that is expected when cyclopentanecarboxylic acid is treated with each of the following reagents:

Answer 1

Answer:

a. Sodium cyclopentanecarboxylate

b. No reaction

Explanation:

In this case, in the cyclopentanecarboxylic acid we have a carboxylic acid functional group. Therefore we have an "acid". The acids by definition have the ability to produce hydronium ions ($H^+$).

With this in mind, for molecule a. we will have an acid-base reaction, because NaOH is a base. When we put together an acid and a base we will have as products a salt and water. In this case, the products are  Sodium cyclopentanecarboxylate (the salt) and water.

For the second molecule, we have the hydronium ion  ($H^+$). This ion can not react with an acid. Because, the acid will produce the hydronium ion also, so a reaction between these compounds is not possible.

See figure 1

I hope it helps!