Carboxylic Acid

Prepared by: Emmanuel C. Revilla

REPORTER: Emmanuel C. Revilla

PHYSCI M15: BIOLOGICAL CHEMISTRY

Mrs. Clarissa F. Gregana

CARBOXYLIC ACID
INTRODUCTION

Carboxylic acids are a large group of chemical compounds that all have a certain

structure in common, composed of the three most important elements on earth carbon,
oxygen and hydrogen.

These various compounds make up the most abundant, naturally occurring organic

acids. The slightly stinging sourness of citrus fruits, such as lemons, comes from one example
called citric acid. Most of the compounds are relatively simple chemically, and as an acid, quite
weak. They readily dissolve into individual molecules in solvents, including water. Even the most
complex and stubborn of them are usually soluble in an alcohol solution.

Not only are they valuable in themselves, they also serve as starting materials for

preparing numerous acyl derivatives such as acid chlorides, esters, amides, and thioesters.

STRUCTURE AND PROPERTIES

Carboxylic acid are organic compounds containing a carboxyl group.

* A carboxyl
group is a carbonyl
group (C=O) with a
hydroxyl group (OH)
bonded to the carbonyl
carbon atom.

BOILING & MELTING POINT

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FUNCTIONAL GROUPS:

Carboxylic Acid

Carboxylic acids are polar compounds because they possess a polar carbonyl group. (dipoledipole interactions)
Carboxylic acids also exhibit intermolecular hydrogen bonding since they possess a hydrogen
atom bonded to an electronegative oxygen atom.
They have the highest boiling and melting points among all known functional groups/organic
compounds.
SOLUBILITY IN WATER

Carboxylic acids form hydrogen bonds with

many water molecules. With 1-4 carbon atoms, they
are soluble in water.
ACIDITY

The most obvious property is implied by their name: carboxylic acids are acidic.
They are the most acidic class of compounds that contain only carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen.

Unsubstituted saturated monocarboxylic acids containing up to nine carbon atoms are liquids that
have strong, sharp odors. Acids with 10 or more carbon atoms in an unbranched chain are waxy solids
that are odorless (because of low volatility). Aromatic carboxylic acids, as well as dicarboxylic acids, are
also odorless solids.
PREPARATION OF CARBOXYLIC ACIDS

Many of the chemical reactions used for their preparation are oxidations.

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FUNCTIONAL GROUPS:

Carboxylic Acid

MODERN APPLICATION/USE OF CARBOXYLIC ACID

Carboxylic acids are widely found in nature. You can find them as free acids like citric
acid, tannic acid and malic acid. Esters the products of acids and alcohols also contain
carboxylic acids. These include fats and oils, flavors of fruits and odors of flowers. Some
bacteria can also cause natural reactions in which these acids are formed. Some examples
include acetic acid from wine or cider, lactic acid found in sour milk and the butyric acid in rancid
butter.
Acetic Acid

This acid is found in vinegar and is responsible

for giving it the sour taste. Vinegar means sour
wine. It was discovered when bacteria reacted
with wine and turned it sour. It is one of the
simplest of carboxylic acids.

Tannic Acid
You may have heard of this acid, it has been
used for tanning. You will find it in the bark of a
number of trees. Tannic acid can be found as a
yellow or light brown powder, which is highly
soluble in water. It is used for the staining of
wood and is also used when dyeing cotton.

Salicylic Acid
This acid is derived from the bark of the willow
tree. Salicylic acid is used in acne creams to
help reduce acne. It derives its name from the
word Salix, which is Latin for Willow. Today this
acid is used as a food preservative.

Citric Acid
This acid is found in most citrus fruits. It gives
the tangy taste to lemons, limes, grape fruits
and oranges. Citric acid is a natural
preservative and used in both foods and soft
drinks. It is also used in some bathroom and
kitchen cleaning solutions.

Malic Acid
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FUNCTIONAL GROUPS:

Carboxylic Acid

This acid is found in many unripe fruits like cue, to utilize the acids in, or chemically covert them
green apples. Malic acid includes green apples,into, a vast variety of applications. Perfumes,
plums, currants (seedless raisins) and a varietyindustrial bleaches, food preservatives and
pharmaceutical drugs are just a few more examples.
of other fruits.
Formic Acid
Formic acid is responsible for the sting of some
types of ants.

Oxalic Acid

This acid was originally derived from the wood Hexanoic Acid
sorrel plant Oxalis. It is now made artificiallyIt has the foul odor associated with dirty socks and
and is used in bleaching and cleansinglocker rooms. It also contributes to the unpleasant
odor of ginkgo seeds.
solutions.
Acrylic Acid
Acrylic acid and its esters readily combine with
Amino acids
This acids are also among natures most important themselves by reacting at their double bond, forming
carboxylic acids. They are nicknamed the building homopolymers or copolymers which are used in the
blocks of proteins. Proteins, in turn, create the
manufacture of various plastics, coatings, adhesives,
nearly infinite diversity of organic tissues, from hair, elastomers, as well as floor polishes, and paints.
skin, heart to tree bark. Scientists have taken this
TESTS FOR CARBOXYLIC ACIDS
1. Litmus Test:
Carboxylic acids turn blue litmus red.
2. Sodium Bicarbonate Test:
To a small portion of the organic compound taken in a test tube, a pinch of solid sodium bicarbonate is
added. Evolution of carbon dioxide with brisk effervescence shows the presence of carboxylic acid.
Alcohols do not give this test.
3. Ester Test:
In this test, the compound to be tested is warmed with small quantity of ethyl alcohol and 2-3 drops of
concentrated sulphuric acid. The formation of sweet smelling vapors indicates the presences of some
carboxylic acid. The sweet smelling vapors are due to the formation of some ester by reaction between
the acid and ethyl alcohol.
4.Fluorescein Reaction:
A little of the substance is heated with Conc.H2SO4 & Resorcinol in a dry test tube. It is cooled & then
poured into a beaker containing excess of NaOH. A red solution with intense green fluorescence.
Presence of dicarboxylic acid.
5. Anhydride formation:
A little of the acid is heated in a dry china dish covered with an inverted funnel whose stem is closed. It
is then cooled. White shiny needles are deposited on the sides of the funnel. Presence of dicarboxylic
acid

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FUNCTIONAL GROUPS:

Carboxylic Acid
REFERENCES

http://humantouchofchemistry.com/fruity-facts-about-carboxylic-acid.htm
http://www.ck12.org/book/From-Vitamins-to-Baked-Goods%3A-Real-Applications-of-OrganicChemistry/section/6.3/
http://www.preservearticles.com/201101022309/uses-of-carboxylic-acids.html
http://academics.wellesley.edu/Chemistry/chem211lab/Orgo_Lab_Manual/Appendix/ClassificationT
ests/carboxylic.html
http://www.preservearticles.com/201101022310/tests-for-carboxylic-acids.html
http://www.docbrown.info/page13/ChemicalTests/ChemicalTestsf.htm#KEYWORDS
http://vlab.amrita.edu/?sub=2&brch=191&sim=345&cnt=1
http://mchem.weebly.com/uploads/9/2/0/5/9205056/functional_group_tests.pdf
http://www.britannica.com/science/carboxylic-acid/Reactions

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