CARBOXYLIC ACIDS

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  • Created by: Holly
  • Created on: 18-05-13 11:46

CARBOXYLIC ACIDS REACT LIKE ANY OTHER ACIDS

THEY REACT LIKE ANY OTHER ACID WITH CARBONATES TO PRODUCE CARBON DIOXIDE

THE SALTS FORMED IN THIS REACTION END IN  '-ANOATE'

EG. ETHANOIC ACID WILL FORM ETHANOATE

ethanoic acid + sodium carbonate ---------> carbon dioxide + sodium ethanoate

Carboxylic acids dissolve in water to produce acidic solutions. 

They ionise and release H+ ions which makes the soloution acidic.

 But because they dont ionise completly they make a weak acidic solution.

This means they have a hight pH level than aqueous soloutions of strong acids with the same concentration.

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CARBOXYLIC ACIDS IN INDUSTRY

CARBOXYLIC ACIDS WITH LONGER CHAINS OF CARBON ATOMS ARE USED TO MAKE SOAP AND DETERGENT.

THEY ARE ALSO USED IN THE PREPERATION OF ESTERS.

ETHANOIC ACID IS A VERY GOOD SOLVENT FOR ORGANIC MOLECULES.

BUT IT IS RARELY CHOSEN AS IT MAKES THE SOLUTION ACIDIC.

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ESTERS

ESTERS HAVE A FUNCTIONAL GROUP -COO-

ESTERS ARE FORMED FROM AN ACOHOL AND A CARBOXYLIC ACID.  AND ACID CATALYST IS USUALLY USED (CONCENTRATED SULFURIC ACID)

alcohol + carboxlyic acid = ester + water

Their name ends in '-oate'

The alcohol forms the first part of the name, and the acid forms the second part:

ethanol + ethanoic acid = ethyl ethanoate + water

methanol + propanoic acid = methyl propanoate + water

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