carboxylic acids

Question 1

What reactions do carboxylic acids take part in?

Answer 1

formation of salts by reactions with metals or bases

condensation reactions with alcohols to form esters in the presence of concentrated sulfuric acid or concentrated phosphoric acid

reaction with amines to form alkylammonium salts that form amides when heated

reduction with lithium aluminium hydride to form primary alcohols

Question 2

how can carboxylic acids be prepared?

Answer 2

by:
oxidising primary alcohols using acidified permanganate, acidified dichromate and hot copper(II) oxide

oxidising aldehydes using acidified permanganate, acidified dichromate, Fehling’s solution and Tollen’s reagent

hydrolysing nitriles, esters or amides