ALIPHATIC CARBOXYLIC

ACIDS
• Aliphatic carboxylic acids are either solids, or liquids. They
contain the strongly acidic - COOH group.

• Examples of liquid acids are:

• lactic
• formic
• and acetic acids.
•
• Examples of solid acids are:
• Tartaric

• Oxalic

• citric
 General Reactions Of ALIPHATIC
CARBOXYLIC ACIDS
(1) Solubility in water.

(2) Sodium carbonate (sodium bicarbonate) test

(acidity test).

(3) Neutralization test:

(a) Neutralization of the acid.
 (1) Solubility in water

Aliphatic carboxylic acids are soluble in water.

 Their aqueous solutions are distinctly acidic to litmus

paper.
(2) Sodium carbonate (sodium bicarbonate)
test (acidity test)
• They decompose Na2CO3 or NaHCO3 and the sodium salt of the
corresponding acid is formed with occurrence of effervescence.

• The warm aqueous Na2CO3 solution (5-10%) is treated with few

crystals (or few drops) of the acid. A strong effervescence will occur.
 (3) Neutralization Test
Neutralization of the acid:

• About 0.5 gm of the acid is placed in a boiling tube,

• add slight excess of ammonia solution, till the solution become just
alkaline to the litmus paper.

• Boil until the odour of NH3 is completely disappear, and then cool.
 Notes :
Excess acidity prevents the formation of the
required compounds.

Excess alkalinity leads to the formation of the

brownish precipitate of ferric hydroxide that interferes
with the results.
Test:
• Equal volumes of neutral FeCl3
solution and the neutral acid
solution are mixed together and the
colour formed is recorded.
 EXAMPLES OF
ALIPHATIC CARBOXYLIC ACIDS
a- Oxalic Acid :

b- Citric acid :

c- Tartaric acid :
 a- Oxalic Acid
It is a Colourless crystalline solid, m.p. 101°C.

(1) FeCl3:
Oxalic solution give no colour with neutral FeCl3 solution.
(2) CaCl2:
Add 1 ml of CaCl2 solution to a Oxalic solution; an
immediate white precipitate of calcium oxalate is
formed on cold, and is insoluble in acetic acid, but
readily dissolves in dilute mineral acids.
(3) KMnO4:

• Add 1 ml of dil. H2SO4 solution to 1 ml of oxalic acid or an

oxalate solution.

• Warm gently, and add a dilute KMnO4 solution, drop by drop,

decolorisation of the solution was observed.
 b- Citric acid
Citric acid is a colourless crystalline solid, melts at 75-80°C
with decomposition
(1) FeCl3:
Neutral FeCl3 solution gives a lemon yellow colour with neutral citrate
solution.

(2) CaCl2:
Add CaCl2 solution to a neutral concentrated solution of a citrate. No
precipitate is formed on the cold, but on boiling, a white precipitate of
calcium citrate is produced, this precipitate is insoluble in acetic acid.
(3) Denige's test:

• A concentrated solution of citrate or citric acid is treated

with HgSO4 then dil. H2SO4 was added and boil.

• Few drops of KMnO4 solution was added gradually, and note

that a decolorisation occurs with the formation of a heavy
white precipitate immediately.
 c- Tartaric acid
• Tartaric acid is a colourless crystalline solid, it is
odourless, and melts at 169°C.
(1) FeCl3:
Neutral FeCl3 solution gives a lemon yellow colour on addition to a
tartaric solution.

(2) CaCl2:
When tartaric solution is treated with CaCl2 solution, a precipitate of
calcium tartarate is separated on the cold, after stirring and scratching
the side of the tube.
(3) Fenton’s test:
To a solution of tartaric acid or add 1 drop of freshly prepared
FeSO4 solution, 2 drops of H2O2 solution, then excess NaOH
solution. An intense violet colouration is produced.