carboxylic acids
Cards (6)
- a carboxylic acid contains a carboxyl functional group
- carboxylic acids are weak acids which dissociate partially in solution
- they can be prepared by:
- oxidising primary alcohols or aldehydes
- hydrolysing nitriles
- hydrolysing esters
- hydrolysing amides
- oxidising primary alcoholsthe primary alcohol is heated under reflux with acidified permanganate, acidified dichromate or hot copper(II) oxide
- oxidising aldehydesthe aldehyde is heated under reflux with acidified permanganate, acidified dichromate, Fehling’s solution or Tollens’ reagent
- reactions of carboxylic acids include:
- formation of salts by reactions with metals or bases
- condensation reactions with alcohols to form esters in the presence of concentrated sulfuric or concentrated phosphoric acid
- reaction with amines to form alkylammonium salts that form amides when heated
- reduction with lithium aluminium hydride to form primary alcohols