Carboxylic Acids

Question 1

What is the general formula for the functional group found in carboxylic acids?

Answer 1

-COOH

Question 2

Describe the acidity of carboxylic acids

Answer 2

Weak acids

Question 3

How do carboxylic acids react with bases?

Answer 3

They react with strong bases to form a carboxylate salt and water through neutralization

Question 4

What is the formula for a carboxylate salt?

Answer 4

The single-bonded oxygen of the carboxylic acid loses its hydrogen, becoming negative and associating with the cation from the base

Question 5

Describe the decarboxylation of carboxylic acids

Answer 5

When heated to very high temperatures, the carboxyl group loses a CO2

Question 6

Which carboxylic acids will decarboxylize before boiling?

Answer 6

Acids with a carbonyl group beta to the carboxyl group

Question 7

What occurs when carboxylic acids undergo decarboxylation before boiling?

Answer 7

A redistribution of electrons in a cyclic transition state followed by keto-enol tautomerism

Question 8

What are the reactants and products of esterification?

Answer 8

Alcohol + Carboxylic Acid = Ester + Water