Condensation Reaction Definition in Chemistry

A condensation reaction is a chemical reaction between two compounds where one of the products is water, ethanol, acetic acid, hydrogen sulfide, or ammonia. A condensation reaction is also known as a dehydration reaction. This type of reaction forms an addition product and water in the presence of a catalyst or under acidic or basic conditions.

The opposite of a condensation reaction is a hydrolysis reaction.

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Dehydration Reaction Definition in Chemistry

By Anne Marie Helmenstine, Ph.D.

Condensation Reaction Examples

Reactions that produce acid anhydrides are condensation reactions. For example: acetic acid (CH₃COOH) forms acetic anhydride ((CH₃CO)₂O) and water by the condensation reaction

2 CH₃COOH → (CH₃CO)₂O + H₂O

Condensation reactions are also involved in the production of many polymers. In organisms, biosynthesis reactions form peptide bonds between amino acids and are involved in fatty acid formation.

Examples of named condensation reactions include aldol condensation, Dieckman condensation, Clasien condensation, and Knoevenagel condensation reactions.

Sources

• Bruckner, Reinhard (2002). Advanced Organic Chemistry (First ed.). San Diego, California: Harcourt Academic Press. pp. 414–427. ISBN 0-12-138110-2.
• "Condensation Reaction". IUPAC Copendium of Chemical Terminology (Gold Book). IUPAC.
• Voet, Donald; Voet, Judith; Pratt, Chriss (2008). Fundamentals of Biochemistry. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. p. 88. ISBN 978-0470-12930-2.