Unit Three: Carboxylic Acids

Question 1

What is the function group for carboxylic acids?

What do their names end in?

Answer 1

-COOH

‘anoic’

Question 2

How do carboxylic acids react?

Answer 2

Just like any other acid with carbonates to produce CO2

Question 3

What is ethanoic acid used for?

How is it made?

Answer 3

To make vinegar which is used for flavouring and preserving foods

Made by oxidising ethanol
Microbes like yeast cause the ethanol to ferment

Question 4

How are carboxylic acids used in industry?

And how are they made?

Answer 4

Soaps and detergents - carboxylic acids with longer chains of carbon atoms
The preparation of esters