Carboxylic acids
Carboxylic acids
- Carboxylic acids contain the –COOH group; the key one is ethanoic acid.
- Like other acids, it reacts with:
- metals → salt + hydrogen,
- bases → salt + water,
- carbonates → salt + water + carbon dioxide.
- The salts are called ethanoates.
Practice
The functional group of carboxylic acids is:
Carboxylic acids contain –COOH; ethanoic acid is the key example.
Making it, and esters
- Ethanoic acid is made by oxidising ethanol (using acidified potassium manganate(VII), or by bacteria making vinegar).
- A carboxylic acid + an alcohol (acid catalyst) → an ester.
Practice
Ethanoic acid can be made by:
Oxidising ethanol (with potassium manganate(VII) or bacteria in vinegar-making) gives ethanoic acid.
Practice
A carboxylic acid plus an alcohol (acid catalyst) makes:
Carboxylic acid + alcohol → ester (with an acid catalyst).
You've got it
Key idea
- carboxylic acids have –COOH; ethanoic acid reacts like an acid (with metals, bases, carbonates)
- its salts are ethanoates; made by oxidising ethanol
- acid + alcohol → an ester