13 - Carboxylic Acids

Question 0

Carboxylic acids are weak acids. What do they react to form?

Answer 0

Carboxylic acids react with metals, carbonates and bases to form salts.

Question 1

Why are carboxylic acids with between 1-4 carbons very water soluble?

Answer 1

The highly polar C=O and O-H bonds are able to for hydrogen bonds with water. The solubility decreases with increasing chain length, due to the non-polar chain not reacting with H2O.

Question 2

What are carboxylates? What ion do they contain?

Answer 2

Carboxylates are salts formed from carboxylic acids. Carboxylates contain the carboxylate ion -COO-.

Question 3

What’s the reaction for a carboxylic acid and a reactive metal?

Answer 3

Carboxylic acid + Reactive Metal -> Salt + Hydrogen gas.

CH3COOH + Na -> CH3COO-Na+ + 1/2H2.

Question 4

What’s the reaction for a carboxylic acid and an aqueous base?

Answer 4

Carboxylic Acid + Aqueous Base -> Salt + Water.

CH3COOH + NaOH(aq) -> CH3COO-Na+(aq) + H2O(l).

Question 5

What’s the reaction for a carboxylic acid and a carbonate?

Answer 5

Carboxylic Acid + Carbonate -> Salt + CO2 + Water.

2CH3COOH(aq) + Ca2CO3(s) -> 2CH3COO-Ca+(aq) + CO2(g) + H2O(l).