The source of the reactivity of the Grignard reagent is the highly polarized C-Mg bond.
These reagents are reactive not only toward carbonyl compounds but also water and
oxygen, and care must be taken during their preparation. The solvents and chemicals used
to prepare Grignard reagents in a research lab must be rigorously anhydrous, and elaborate
glassware is often used to ensure that the reagent does not react with air or water. The
experiment that you will perform does not require rigorously anhydrous conditions but the
Grignard reagent is still protected from atmospheric moisture and oxygen by a blanket of
ether vapor.
In this experiment, you will work with a partner to generate a Grignard reagent and react
it in situ (i.e. without isolating it) with solid carbon dioxide. Following work-up, the
corresponding carboxylic acid will be isolated and purified.