Carboxylic Acid

• Carboxylic Acids


  Organic compounds containing a carboxyl group
• Where carboxylic acids occur

  • Amino acids (building blocks of protein)
  • Acetic acid (vinegar)
  • Fatty acids
  • Lipids
  • Polyamides (components of proteins)
  • Industrially produced for polymers, pharmaceuticals, solvents, food additives, and as vinegar
• Carboxylic Acids


  • Organic acids that contain the carboxyl group (R-COOH or Ar-COOH)
  • Weak acids with only one acidic hydrogen (the hydrogen on the carboxyl group)
  • Can be used to prepare numerous carboxylic acid derivatives such as acid chlorides, esters, amides and thioesters
• Many carboxylic acids are found in nature and have common names derived from the substance in which they were originally found
• Examples of carboxylic acids

  • Methanoic acid (Formic acid)
  • Ethanoic acid (Acetic acid)
  • Butanoic acid (Butyric acid)
  • Hexanoic acid (Caproic acid)
  • Cholic acid
  • Palmitic acid
  • Citric acid
  • Lactic acid
  • Benzoic acid
• Dicarboxylic acids are named by omitting the location numbers for both carboxyl groups and adding the ending -dioic acid to the parent chain
• Esters


  • Derivatives of carboxylic acids formed when an acid is combined with an alcohol
  • General formula: R-COO-R
  • Many esters are pleasant smelling liquids responsible for the fragrant odors of fruits and flowers
• Esters


  • Ethyl formate (Rum)
  • Pentyl acetate (Banana)
  • Octyl acetate (Orange)
  • Methyl butanoate (Pineapple)
  • Methyl salicylate (Oil of Wintergreen)
  • Nitroglycerin (Reduces high blood pressure)
• Amines


  • Organic derivatives of ammonia where one or more hydrogens have been replaced with an alkyl or aryl group
  • Primary amine (one hydrogen replaced)
  • Secondary amine (two hydrogens replaced)
  • Tertiary amine (all three hydrogens replaced)
• Amides


  • Derivatives of carboxylic acids with the general formula RCONH2
  • Named by dropping the -ic ending of the acid and adding -amide