Carboxylic Acids

• Write condensed structural formulas for and name organic acids.

Include: uses and functions of common organic acids

Additional KEY Terms

The functional group of carboxylic acids is the carboxyl group.

• general form: R – COOH• made up of two smaller functional groups

O

O CR HO

carbonyl group

hydroxyl group

Properties of Carboxylic Acids:

• Polar covalent: < 5C (small) are soluble in water

O

O CR HO H+

O

O CR O

_

(solid) (aqueous)

δ+δ-

• Weak acids that ionize when dissolved

• Strong IMF (H-bonding) gives high bp/mp

Organic acids common in both plants and animals:

• Sour taste in fruits (citric acid), vinegar (acetic acid)

• Amino acids (proteins) are carboxylic acids• Fatty acids (fats) contain large carboxylic acids

· Name parent chain containing carboxyl group.· Replacing the – e ending with – oic acid. · Numbering always begins with the carbon

containing the carboxyl group.

NAMING Carboxylic Acids

methanoic acidformic acid

(ant and bee stings)

butanoic acid CH3-CH2-CH2-C

O

\OH

//

CH3COOHCH3-C

OH

O//

\ethanoic acid

acetic acid (vinegar)

benzoic acid

CH3-CH2-CH2-CH-C

O

\OH

//CH3\

4-methylpentanoic acid

CH3CH(CH3)CH2CH2COOH

CAN YOU / HAVE YOU?

• Write condensed structural formulas for and name organic acids.

Include: uses and functions of common organic acids

Additional KEY Terms