1. Carboxylic acids

3. Preparation of carboxylic acids

4. 1. oxidation of a primary alcohol

5. 2. Oxidation of an aldehyde

6. 3. Hydrolysis of a nitrile

7. 4. Hydrolysis of an ester

8. 5. Hydrolysis of an ester

9. Reactions of carboxylic acids
Carboxylic acids behave as typical acids in aqueous solution and form salts by reacting with metals and bases(including alkalis).
They undergo condensation reactions with alcohols to form esters.
Carboxylic acids react with amines to form amides.
They can be reduced to primary alcohols using lithium aluminium hydride
Carboxylic acids are extremely versatile compounds which can be used to synthesise many useful products.

10. 1. Carboxylic acids and metals
Carboxylic acid + metal  salt + hydrogen
2CH3COOH (aq) + Mg (s) Mg 2+ (CH3COO-)2 (aq) + H2 (g)
Magnesium reacts with ethanoic acid to produce magnesium ethanoate and hydrogen gas.

11. 2. Carboxylic acids and bases
Carboxylic acid + base salt + water + carbon dioxide
CH3COOH(aq) + 2NaOH(aq) Na+CH3COO-(aq) + H2O (l) + CO2(g)

12. 3. Ester formation

13. 4. With amino groups to form amide links

14. 5. Reduction with Lithium aluminium hydride to form primary alcohols.