Carbolxylic Acids

• Carboxylic Acids General formula = $C_nH_{2n+1}COOH$

• Functional group for Carbolxylic acids: COOH
• Methanoic Acid (n=1)

  
• Ethanoic Acid (n=2)

  
• Propanoic Acid (n=3)

  
• Butanoic acid (n=4)

  
• Ethanoic Acid is a weak acid with high pH and low dissociation
• Ethanoic Acid is formed by:

  • Oxidation of ethanol
  • With acidified potassium mangenate (VII)
• Carboxylic acids react with alcohols to give esters, in a condensation reaction, for example:

  
  

  Ethanoic acid + ethanol ⇌ ethyl ethanoate + water (alcohol = -yl & carboxylic acid = -oate)