Chemistry (AS Level)·Carboxylic acids and derivatives · NSSCAS 4.7.1
Carboxylic Acids
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Carboxylic acids are the organic acids built around the –COOH carboxyl group — think of the ethanoic acid in vinegar. In this lesson you'll interpret and use their general, structural, displayed and skeletal formulae, name them up to six carbons, and deduce a molecular formula from a structure. You'll then see how they are formed by oxidising primary alcohols and aldehydes, and how, as weak acids, they react with metals, alkalis and carbonates to give salts, and with alcohols to give esters.
What you'll learn in this lesson
By the end you should be able to (NSSCAS Chemistry (AS Level) 4.7.1):
- Interpret and use general, structural (condensed/semi-structural and displayed) and skeletal formulae of carboxylic acids, recognising the –COOH carboxyl group
- Name carboxylic acids up to six carbons (e.g. ethanoic acid, butanoic acid)
- Deduce the molecular formula of a carboxylic acid from a given structure
- Describe the formation of carboxylic acids by oxidising a primary alcohol or an aldehyde with acidified Cr₂O₇²⁻ under reflux
- Describe the reactions of carboxylic acids as weak acids to form salts (with metals, alkalis and carbonates) and to form alkyl esters by esterification with an alcohol
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