Carboxylic acids
Carboxylic acids Methanoic acid HCOOH Ethanoic acid CH3COOH Propanoic acid C2H5COOH Butanoic acid C3H7COOH
Methanoic acid HCOOH
Ethanoic acid CH3COOH
Propanoic acid C2H5COOH
Butanoic acid C3H7COOH
Physical properties Physical state: Methanoic acid and ethanoic acid are liquids, while propanoic acid and butanoic acid are solids Short chain carboxylic acids are soluble in water due to the polar COOH group Carboxylic acids are soluble in non-polar solvents such as cyclohexane
Boiling points of carboxylic acids Boiling points higher than the corresponding alcohols This is because carboxylic acids form dimers, where two carboxylic acid molecules are held together by two hydrogen bonds This is possible due to polarity in both the C=O and O-H bonds in each carboxylic acid molecule
Ethanoic acid dimer δ- δ+ δ- δ+ δ+ δ- δ+ δ-
Occurrence and uses Methanoic acid is found in the sting of ants and nettles Ethanoic acid is the principal acid in vinegar Ethanoic acid is used in the manufacture of cellulose acetate Propanoic acid, benzoic acid and their salts (e.g. sodium benzoate) are used as food preservatives