Carboxylic Acids Flashcards
What is the functional group of a carboxylic acid?
COOH
How are carboxylic acids named?
Their names all end with ‘anoic acid’
For example, ‘propanoic acid’ or ‘butanoic acid’.
Name the first 4 carboxylic acids.
Methanoic acid, ethanoic acid, propanoic acid, butanoic acid
Are carboxylic acids neutral, acidic, or alkaline?
Carboxylic acids are acidic (<7)
How do carboxylic acids react with water?
They dissolve in water but they don’t completely ionise (release H+ ions).
This means they form weak acidic solutions.
This gives them a relatively high pH for an acid (5 or 6).
How do carboxylic acids react with carbonates?
They form a salt, water, and carbon dioxide.
Are carboxylic acids strong or weak acids?
Carboxylic acids are weak acids.
When carboxylic acids react with carbonates, how are the salts named?
Their names all end with ‘anoate’.
For example ‘sodium ethanoate’, or ‘sodium butanoate’.
What type of substance reacts with an alcohol to form a carboxylic acid?
An oxidising agent.
