carboxylic acids

Question 1

what are carboxylic acids?

Answer 1

carboxylic acids are a homologous series of organic compounds which have the carboxyl (-COOH) function group

Question 2

what is the general formula for carboxylic acids?

Answer 2

CnH2n+1COOH

Question 3

what methanoic acid’s
-no. of carbon atoms
-molecular formula

Answer 3

1 carbon atom
HCOOH

Question 4

what ethanoic acid’s
-no. of carbon atoms
-molecular formula

Answer 4

2 carbon atoms
CH3COOH

Question 5

what propanoic acid’s
-no. of carbon atoms
-molecular formula

Answer 5

3 carbon atoms
C2H5COOH

Question 6

what butanoic acid’s
-no. of carbon atoms
-molecular formula

Answer 6

4 carbon atoms
C3H7COOH

Question 7

what are the physical properties of carboxylic acids?

Answer 7

down the homologous series…
solubility in water decreases(higher percentage of C-H bonds)
stronger intermolecular forces->boiling point increases

Question 8

what are the chemical properties of carboxylic acids?

Answer 8

carboxylic acids are weak acids that ionise partially in aqueous solution
they are able to react with metals, bases and carbonates
eg. acid+metal=salt+hydrogen, acid+base=salt+water, acid+carbonate=water+co2+salt

Question 9

what is the production of ethanoic acid?

Answer 9

ethanol can be oxidised into ethanoic acid with acidified potassium manganate(VII). when this reaction takes place, the purple potassium manganate turns colourless.
potassium manganate is to test for reducing agents. however, it is an oxidising agent.
ethanol can oxidise into ethanoic acid by oxygen and bacteria in the air