All organic acids contain at least one carboxyl group, which is why they are also called carboxylic acids.

The Carboxyl Group

The carboxyl group is made up of the carbonyl group (C =O) and the hydroxyl group (-OH). It is the functional group that determines the chemical properties of the carboxylic acids.

Hence, the -COOH group is the functional group and they are called carboxylic acids.

Classification and Structure of Organic Acids (Carboxylic Acids)

Organic acids can be classified into two groups: aliphatic and aromatic carboxylic acids. Aliphatic carboxylic acids are called alkanoic acids.

Structurally, the - COOH group is attached to alkyl groups.

There are different kinds of alkanoic acids- some contain one carboxyl group per molecule- these are called monocarboxylic acids.

Others contain more than one carboxyl group. E.g. two - dicarboxylic acids, and three- tricaboxylic acid.

E.g.

CH3COOH Ethanoic acid (monocarboxylic acid)

Ethanedioc acid or oxalic acid (dicarboxylic acid)

2-hydroxypropan-1,2,3-tricarboxylic acid (tricarboxylic acid)

Aromatic Carboxylic Acids

These compounds have the carboxyl group - COOH attached to aryl or ring structures. E.g.

Benzoic acid

2- hydroxybenzoic acid

Carboxylic Acids Formula

Of the above different classes, the monoaliphatic carboxylic acids are the most common. They form a homologous series with general molecular formula C_nH_{2n + 1} COOH or C_nH_2nO₂

The first five members are given below:

Nomenclature (Naming) of Carboxylic Acids

The I.U.P.A.C. system of naming a carboxylic acid is by selecting the longest continuous carbon chain containing the carboxyl group.

The name of the corresponding alkane is replaced with -oic acid. The position of substituents are indicated by numbering the longest chain from the carbon bearing the carboxyl group.

E.g.

HCOOH Methanoic acid

CH3COOH Ethanoic acid

2- methylpentanoic acid

Methods of Preparation of Carboxylic Acids

Carboxylic acids can be prepared both in the laboratory and in commercial quantity following certain methods. To show how this type of compounds can be made, we will use the ethanoic acid as an example. 

Laboratory preparation of Ethanoic Acid

As we discussed earlier in the study of alkanols, ethanoic acid is the final organic oxidation product of ethanol.

Thus, the process which will lead to the final oxidation of ethanol is applied (the oxidation occurs in two stages):

Note:

* Hydrochloric acid is not used because it is volatile and would therefore distill with the ethanoic acid.

* Hot ethanoic acid vapor attacks cork or rubber stoppers - the apparatus must all be glass.

Industrial Manufacture of Ethanoic Acid

(1). From Butane - butane is oxidized directly to ethanoic acid by mixing it with air and passing it into ethanoic acid kept at 160^OC in the presence of manganese(II) ethanoate as catalyst at 20 atm pressure.

(2). From Ethyne - ethyne is passed into dilute H₂SO₄ in the presence of mercury(I) sulphate(VI) as catalyst at about 95^OC to produce ethanal vapor which is then mixed with air and passed over heated manganese(II) ethanoate as catalyst at 60^OC.

(3). From Ethanol - ethanoic acid is manufactured in the form of vinegar (contains 4-5% of ethanoic acid). The process involves the running of dilute aqueous solution of ethanol (such as wine of pure quality) over coke in a well aerated vat.

A bacteria - mycoderma aceti, which acts as catalyst is introduced into the coke. The liquid mixture is then passed into the vat several times to ensure complete oxidation of the ethanol to ethanoic acid.

Carboxylic Acid Properties

To demonstrate the common properties shown by the carboxylic acids, we will use ethanoic acid, which is a great example of the family of compounds with the carboxyl functional group.

Properties of Ethanoic Acid  

Physical properties

1. Ethanoic acid is usually a colorless liquid with a characteristic sharp and pungent smell.

2. It is very soluble in all proportion in water - it shows greatest solubility when compared with alkanes and alkanols of similar molecular weight.

Note: The reason for their relative high solubility in water is the presence of high degree of hydrogen bonding, which are formed from C=O and -OH (two points on a molecule of the carboxyl group, - COOH) with water molecules.

3. The pure anhydrous ethanoic acid has melting point of 17^OC and freezes readily into ice-like crystals during winter in cold countries - hence it is called glacial ethanoic or glacial acetic acid.

4. It has a relative high boiling point of 118^OC compared with alkanes and alkanols of similar molecular weight. This is due to high degree of inter-molecular attraction (i.e. hydrogen bonding) between opposite ends of carbon-oxygen and carbon-hydroxy dipoles.

I.e., two hydrogen bonds are formed by each molecule with another, while in alkanols, one hydrogen bond is formed per molecule, and in alkanes no hydrogen bond is formed.

5. As an acid, it turns blue litmus red.

Chemical properties (reactions of ethanoic acid)

1. Acidic behavior - ethanoic acid slightly ionizes in dilute solution to furnish hydrogen ions H⁺, hence it is a weak acid.

CH3COOH(aq)

CH3COO- (aq)+ H+(aq)

 The usual acidic behavior is as a result of the presence of H+ ion in its solution. I.e.,

(a). It liberates CO₂ from carbonates, and hydrogen carbonates.

(b). It is attacked by strongly electropositive metals, e.g. magnesium and calcium to release hydrogen.

(c). It turns blue litmus red.

(d). It neutralizes alkalis or bases to form salts (ethanoates) and water only.

Note:

* The presence of the carboxyl functional group - COOH is responsible for the exhibition of the above acidic properties. Hence, all substances with the -COOH group, including the dicarboxylic and tricarboxylic acids show the above properties. The di and tri carboxylic acids behave as dibasic and tribasic acids respectively.

* Ethanoic acid is not easily decomposed by heat, it is not affected by ordinary oxidizing, reducing and dehydrating agents - it is fairly stable.

2. Ester formation: Ethanoic acid reacts with an alkanol, e.g. methanol or ethanol in the presence of a little conc. H₂SO₄ or dry Hcl as catalyst to produce an ester. E.g.

CH3COOH(l) + C2H5OH(l)

CH3COOC2H5(l)  ethylethanoate (ester)

+ H2O(l)

3. Formation of acyl chloride: When anhydrous ethanoic acid is brought in contact with phosporus(V) chloride in the cold, a rapid reaction occurs with the production of ethanoyl chloride (acetyl chloride) and a steaming fume of Hcl.

Note:

Acyl chloride

* PCl₃ reacts similarly but less rapidly.

* The reaction shows the presence of the - OH group in the acid which is attacked by PCl₅.

* The alkyl group - CH₃ is unaffected.

Note:

* The chlorine attacks only the alkyl (CH₃) group.

* If monochloroethanoic acid is made to react with aqueous ammonia, the chlorine will be displaced by the amino (NH₂) group to form glycine, H₂NCH₂COOH. Glycine is the simplest of the amino acids, which are the basic unit of proteins.

5. Decarboxylation reaction: Anhydrous ethanoic acid will produce methane and CO₂ when heated with soda-lime.

Uses of Ethanoic Acid

(1). As a solvent.

(2). As vinegar - for flavoring and preserving foods in the food industry.

(3). For the production of many useful industrial chemicals. E.g. ethanoic anhydride - used in asprin and in the production of cellulose ethanoate; various dyes; propanone and ethenyl ethanoate - used in vinyl resins.

(4). For coagulation of rubber latex.