Carboxylic acids

• Carboxylic acids only partially ionise in water, meaning they are weak acids.
• Functional group:

  Carboxyl group (-COOH).
• General formula:

  CnH(2n+1)COOH
• 4 smallest Carboxylic acids:

  Methanoic acid (HCOOH)

  Ethanoic acid (CH3COOH)

  Propanoic acid (CH3CH2COOH)

  Butanoic acid (CH3CH2CH2COOH)
• When carboxylic acids react with water, they dissolve to give solutions with an acidic pH.
• When carboxylic acids react with carbonates they form:

  • A salt
  • Carbon dioxide
  • Water
• When carboxylic acids react with alcohols (using an acid catalyst), the form an ester and water.

  • Ethanoic acid + Ethanol -> Ethyl ethanoate + Water

  This is known as a condensation reaction.