Answer to Question #169555 in Organic Chemistry for khushi

Question

Explain the acidic and basic behavior of carboxylic acids.

Answer 1

Carboxylic acid is an organic compound containing a carboxyl group (COOH) attached to an alkyl or aryl group.The acidity of carboxylic acids is higher in comparison to simple phenols as they react with weak bases like carbonates and bicarbonates to liberate carbon dioxide gas.

The acidity of the carboxylic acids

Using the definition of an acid as a "substance which donates protons (hydrogen ions) to other things", the carboxylic acids are acidic because of the hydrogen in the -COOH group. ..For example, with ethanoic acid, you get an ethanoate ion formed together with a hydroxonium ion, H3O+.