Carboxylic acids

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Carboxylic acids

• AH Chemistry, Unit 3(b)

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Functional group
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Dimers

• Causes relatively high boiling points.
• But do not exist in aqueous solution.

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Properties

• Solubility
• How does this compare to alcohols?
• Why?

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• The carbonyl group has electron withdrawing
  properties and makes the O-H bond even more polar.

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Properties

• pH in aqueous solution

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• The stability of the carboxylate ion is
  stabilised by electron delocalisation.
• So less likely to recombine with H

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Preparation

1. Oxidation of aldehydes
2. Hydrolysis of esters, amides or nitriles

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Reactions

• Neutralisation with bases and metals
• Producing salts
• Condensation with alcohols
• Producing esters
• Reaction with ammonia
• Producing ammonium salts, then amides
• Reduction with lithium aluminium hydride
• Producing primary alcohols