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Carboxylic Acids

Chemistry (Year 12) - Organic Chemistry

Kiara Hemetsberger

Carboxylic Acids

Carboxylic acids are organic compounds with acidic properties. The carboxylic acid functional group is represented by R - COOH, where a terminal C atom is double bonded to an O atom and single bonded to a - OH group.



Carboxylic acids have the suffix "-oic acid" and don't need to be numbered as they are located on a terminal carbon.


Boiling Point and Solubility of Carboxylic Acids

Carboxylic acids exhibit dispersion forces, dipole-dipole forces, and can form multiple hydrogen bonds.

Carboxylic acid's hydrogen bonding capability is greater than that of alcohols, as hydrogen bonds can form between the - OH group, as well as with the lone pairs on the double-bonded O atom.


As a result, carboxylic acids have a higher boiling point and solubility than alcohols of similar molecular mass.

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