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Properties of Carboxylic Acids

Chemistry: Cambridge International A Level, topic 3.6.1

Carboxylic Acids

Carboxylic acids have some useful reactions, among them neutralisation reactions and esterification.

Structure

Structure

  • Above is a molecule containing -COOH, the carboxylic acid functional group. This example is called propanoic acid.
Acidic properties

Acidic properties

  • Carboxylic acids are weak acids.
  • This means they only partially ionise in water.
  • They will react with carbonates to produce carbon dioxide.
  • This can be used as a test for carboxylic acids.
Esterification

Esterification

  • Carboxylic acids will react with alcohols.
  • This reaction is called esterification. It produces an ester.
  • Usually, you would use sulfuric acid as a catalyst for this reaction.
  • You don't need the mechanism for this, but the ester group is shown on the next slide.
Structure of ester

Structure of ester

  • The ester formed from the reaction between an alcohol and a carboxylic acid will contain the ester functional group, R-COO-R, as shown above.

Test yourself on Properties of Carboxylic Acids

  • Carboxylic acid reacts with carbonates to produce CO2. What can we use this for?

  • What must a carboxylic acid react with to produce an ester?

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