Carboxylic acid
oxoacid having the structure RC(=O)OH, used as a suffix in systematic name formation to denote the –C(=O)OH group including its carbon atom
A carboxylic acid is any molecule that has a COOH group. This group contains a carbonyl (C=O double bond) together with an hydroxyl group (OH) on the same carbon atom. Because it is easy to remove the proton with even a weak base, these compounds are called acids. An example of a carboxylic acid is Acetic acid, which is also known as vinegar.
Carboxylic acids are found a lot in food. Many types of fat molecules are actually carboxylic acids. For example, chocolate and coconuts have these acids. They are also used a lot in soaps and detergents.
The smaller carboxylic acids dissolve in water. The bigger ones dissolve only in organic solvents.
List
changeThis section lists the first few carboxylic acids.
| Carbon atoms |
Common name | IUPAC name | Chemical formula | Common location or use |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Carbonic acid | Carbonic acid | OHCOOH | Blood and tissues (bicarbonate buffer system) |
| 1 | Formic acid | Methanoic acid | HCOOH | Insect stings |
| 2 | Acetic acid | Ethanoic acid | CH3COOH | Vinegar |
| 3 | Propionic acid | Propanoic acid | CH3CH2COOH | Preservative for stored grains, body odour |
| 4 | Butyric acid | Butanoic acid | CH3(CH2)2COOH | Butter |
| 5 | Valeric acid | Pentanoic acid | CH3(CH2)3COOH | Valerian |
| 6 | Caproic acid | Hexanoic acid | CH3(CH2)4COOH | Goat fat |
| 7 | Enanthic acid | Heptanoic acid | CH3(CH2)5COOH | |
| 8 | Caprylic acid | Octanoic acid | CH3(CH2)6COOH | Coconuts |
| 9 | Pelargonic acid | Nonanoic acid | CH3(CH2)7COOH | Pelargonium |
| 10 | Capric acid | Decanoic acid | CH3(CH2)8COOH | Coconut and Palm kernel oil |
| 11 | Undecylic acid | Undecanoic acid | CH3(CH2)9COOH | |
| 12 | Lauric acid | Dodecanoic acid | CH3(CH2)10COOH | Coconut oil and hand wash soaps |
| 13 | Tridecylic acid | Tridecanoic acid | CH3(CH2)11COOH | |
| 14 | Myristic acid | Tetradecanoic acid | CH3(CH2)12COOH | Nutmeg |
| 15 | Pentadecylic acid | Pentadecanoic acid | CH3(CH2)13COOH | |
| 16 | Palmitic acid | Hexadecanoic acid | CH3(CH2)14COOH | Palm oil |
| 17 | Margaric acid | Heptadecanoic acid | CH3(CH2)15COOH | |
| 18 | Stearic acid | Octadecanoic acid | CH3(CH2)16COOH | Chocolate, waxes, soaps, and oils |
| 19 | Nonadecylic acid | Nonadecanoic acid | CH3(CH2)17COOH | Fats, vegetable oils, pheromone |
| 20 | Arachidic acid | Icosanoic acid | CH3(CH2)18COOH | Peanut oil |
