GENERAL

• WHERE IS A CARBOXYLIC ACID REACTIVE FROM?

  • C of carbonyl group
  • O on C=O bond
  • H on O-H group
• WHY ARE CARBOXYLIC ACIDS REACTIVE AT THE CARBON OF CARBONYL GROUP?

  slightly positive charge

  -> open to attack from nucleophiles
• WHY ARE CARBOXYLIC ACIDS REACTIVE AT O OF C=O BOND?

  slightly negative

  -> may be attacked by positively charged species (e.g. H+ causing it to become protonated)
• WHY ARE CARBOXYLIC ACIDS REACTIVE AT H OF O-H GROUP?

  lost as H+

  -> compound behaving as an acid