Carboxylic Acids & Esters

• Carboxylic acids can be converted into esters through nucleophilic substitution reactions (in the presence of an acid catalyst) with alcohols or amines
• Common uses of esters: Solvents, plasticisers, perfumes and food flavourings
• Esters can be hydrolysed in acid/alkaline conditions to form alcohols and carboxylic acids or salts of carboxylic acids
• Biodiesel is a mixture of methyl esters of long-chain carboxylic acids
• Biodiesel is produced by reacting vegetable oils with methanol in the presence of a catalyst
• Carboxylic Acids


  Have functional group -COOH containing a carbonyl group C=O and -OH acid group, they are produced from the oxidation of primary alcohols under reflux

  Carboxylic acids are weak acids that slightly dissociate when in solution, forming a H+ ion and a carboxylate ion, RCOO-
• Carboxylic Acid with Carbonate Reaction

  Carboxylic acids react as acids with carbonates to produce a carboxylate salt, water and CO2

  Equation: 2RCOOH + CO32- ---> 2RCOO- + CO2 + H2O