Carboxylic acids

• Carboxylic acids?is the name given to compounds containing the functional group?carboxyl, -COOH
• The general formula of a carboxylic acid is?C_nH_2n+1COOH?which can be shortened to just?RCOOH
  • (In some countries the family is? called alkanoic acid)
• The nomenclature of?carboxylic acid?follows the pattern?alkan + oic acid
• There is no need to use numbers in the name as the carboxyl group will always be on the number 1 carbon atom

Carboxylic Acids Examples Table

Esters

• Esters?are?functional group isomers?of?carboxylic acids?and contain the functional group,?carboxylate,?-COOR
• The general formula of an ester is usually represented as?RCOOR?where?R?can be the same or different on either side of the carboxylate group
• The nomenclature of?esters?follows the pattern?alkyl + alkanoate
• The alkyl group in the name is the?R?group attached to the oxygen

Esters Examples Table

• Carboxylic acids?and?esters?contain few similarities in their chemical and physical properties
• H-bonds?are present between?carboxylic acid?molecules and not between?esters, so this affects the melting point, boiling? point and solubility:
  • Smaller chain?carboxylic acids?are soluble in water and have higher boiling points than expected (e.g. ethanoic acid is 117?^oC)
  • Esters?are insoluble in water and have lower boiling points than their isomeric carboxylic acids ( e.g. methyl methanoate is 31?^oC)