General formula of carboxylic acid

The general formula of carboxylic acid can be represented as Cn H2n+1 COOH.

The case of a derivative can be represented as

(‘’R’’ can be Hydrogen or an organic group)

A way of graphical representation is

Figure 1

(‘’R’’ can be Hydrogen or an organic group)

The core structure shown in red in Figure2 is called the acyl group. It is similar to
the carbonyl group in aldehydes and ketones, but differs from a carbonyl group in
that the atom X has at least one lone pair of electrons. The interaction of this
electron pair with the pi system of the carbonyl group is responsible for some
significant differences between the chemical reactivity of aldehydes and ketones
on the one hand and members of the carboxylic acid family on the other."

figure 2
General formula of ester
The general formula of an ester can be represented by: R - OH + R" - CO2H -> R -
CO2 - R" + H2O
(R and R" are any other organic functional group.)

A graphic representation is:

(Where R, a hydrogen, an alkyl or aryl group, and R 'an alkyl or aryl

but no hydrogen)

There are other types of esters, some of their formulas are:

Carbonic ester:

Phosphoric ester:

Sulfuric ester:
Bibliography:
http://galeon.hispavista.com/melaniocoronado/ESTERES.pdf
http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/organic/ester.html
www.3rd1000.com/chem301/chem301v.htm
www.chemguide.co.uk/.../esters/background.html
www.gcsescience.com/o46.htm