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Carboxylic Acids 11

Carboxylic acids are organic compounds characterized by the functional group -COOH, with a general formula of CnH2n+1COOH. They are weak acids that can react with metals and metal carbonates to produce salts, water, and gases, and are commonly named using the suffix '-oic acid'. An example of a carboxylic acid is ethanoic acid, which is found in vinegar, formed through the microbial oxidation of ethanol.

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28 views4 pages

Carboxylic Acids 11

Carboxylic acids are organic compounds characterized by the functional group -COOH, with a general formula of CnH2n+1COOH. They are weak acids that can react with metals and metal carbonates to produce salts, water, and gases, and are commonly named using the suffix '-oic acid'. An example of a carboxylic acid is ethanoic acid, which is found in vinegar, formed through the microbial oxidation of ethanol.

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CARBOXYLIC ACIDS

CARBOXYLIC ACIDS CONTAIN THE FUNCTIONAL GROUP -COOH

*Carboxylic acids: homologous series of organic compounds that all contain the same
functional group –COOH (carboxyl, -COOH)

-The general formula of a carboxylic acid is CnH2n+1COOH which can be shortened to


just RCOOH

-The naming of a carboxylic acid follows the pattern alkan + oic acid

STRUCTURAL AND DISPLAYED FORMULAE FOR UNBRANCHED-CHAIN


CARBOXYLIC ACIDS WITH UP TO FOUR CARBON ATOMS IN THE MOLECULE

Carboxylic acids with up to four carbon atoms in molecule

*Name of compounds that are carboxylic acids end in '-oic acid’

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THE REACTIONS OF AQUEOUS SOLUTIONS OF CARBOXYLIC ACIDS WITH
METALS AND METAL CARBONATES

Reactions of aqueous carboxylic acids with metals and metal carbonates

*Carboxylic acids are weak acids as they can donate a hydrogen ion (H+) in acid-base
reactions.

Metals

*Carboxylic acids will react with metals to produce a salt and hydrogen gas.
-The salts formed by the reaction of carboxylic acids all end –anoate

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 Example: Reaction of Ethanol and Magnesium

*In the reaction of ethanoic acid with magnesium, the salt magnesium ethanoate is formed:
[ (CH3COO)2Mg]

Non - metals

*Carboxylic acids will react with metal carbonates to produce a salt, water and carbon
dioxide

 Example: Reaction of Ethanoic acid and Sodium carbonate

-In reaction with potassium hydroxide the salt potassium propanoate is formed by reaction
with propanoic acid:

Hydroxides

*In the reaction with hydroxides a salt and water are formed in a neutralisation reaction
-For example in reaction with lithium hydroxide the salt lithium propanoate is formed by
reaction with propanoic acid.

CH3CH2COOH + LiOH → CH3CH2COOLi + H2O

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VINEGAR IS AN AQUEOUS SOLUTION CONTAINING ETHANOIC ACID

*Vinegar: aqueous solution containing ethanoic acid

Diagram showing an atom of Ethanoic Acid

Formation of vinegar (ethanoic acid)

*Microbial oxidation of ethanol occurs when a bottle of wine is opened, causing bacteria
in the air (acetobacter) to use atmospheric oxygen to oxidise ethanol into a weak solution
of vinegar (ethanoic acid).

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