The Carboxylic Acids

• Carboxylic acids are the name given to

compounds containing the functional
group carboxyl, -COOH
• The general formula of a carboxylic acid
is CnH2n+1COOH which can be shortened to
just RCOOH
• The naming of a carboxylic acid follows
the pattern alkane + oic acid
• The names and structure of the first four
carboxylic acids are shown below
Reactions of Carboxylic
Acids
• The carboxylic acids behave like other acids
• They react with metals to form a salt and
hydrogen and with carbonates to form a salt, water
and carbon dioxide gas
• They take part in neutralisation reactions to
produce salt and water
• Ethanoic acid (also called acetic acid) is the acid
used to make vinegar, which contains around 5%
by volume ethanoic acid
• The salts formed by the reaction of carboxylic acids
all end –anoate
• So methanoic acid forms a salt
called methanoate, ethanoic a salt called ethanoate
etc
• In the reaction with metals, a metal salt and
hydrogen gas are produced
• For example in the reaction of ethanoic acid
with magnesium, the salt magnesium ethanoate is
formed:

2CH3COOH + Mg → (CH3COO)2Mg + H2
• In the reaction with hydroxides a salt and water are
formed in a neutralisation reaction
• For example in reaction with potassium hydroxide
the salt potassium propanoate is formed by reaction
with propanoic acid:

CH3CH2COOH + KOH → CH3CH2COOK + H2O

• In the reaction with carbonates a metal salt, water

and carbon dioxide gas are produced
• For example in reaction with potassium carbonate
the salt potassium butanoate is formed by reaction
with butanoic acid:
2CH3CH2CH2COOH + K2CO3 → 2CH3CH2CH2COOK + H2O +
CO2

Author is

Afifa Nishat