Question

Carboxylic acid

Answer 1

[AI-generated answer — Bot GPT 3.5]

Carboxylic acid is a type of organic compound that contains a carboxyl group (-COOH) as its functional group. It is characterized by the presence of a carbonyl group (C=O) and a hydroxyl group (OH) attached to the same carbon atom.

Carboxylic acids are named by replacing the -e of the corresponding alkane or alkene with -oic acid. For example, methane becomes methanoic acid and ethene becomes ethenoic acid.

Carboxylic acids are usually found in nature as products of metabolism in living organisms. Some common examples include acetic acid (found in vinegar), citric acid (found in citrus fruits), and formic acid (found in ant venom).

These acids are known for their acidic properties, meaning they can donate a proton (H+) to a base. They also have higher boiling points compared to other organic compounds due to the presence of hydrogen bonds between molecules.

Carboxylic acids have a wide range of applications in various industries. They are used in the production of polymers, pharmaceuticals, food additives, and perfumes, among others. They also serve as chemical intermediates in many organic reactions.