[PDF] Chapter 5 Carboxylic Acids and Esters

Why is a carboxylic acid more acidic than alcohol?

The stability of an anion determines the strength of its parent acid. A carboxylic acid is, therefore, a much stronger acid than the corresponding alcohol, because, when it loses its proton, a more stable ion results. In contrast, electron-donating groups decrease acidity by destabilizing the carboxylate ion.

Why are esters considered derivatives of carboxylic acids?

The properties of the amide functional group differ from those of the simple carbonyl group, NH 3, and amines. Esters and amides are considered to be derivatives of carboxylic acids because the OH in the carboxyl group is replaced with another group.

Who one is more stable between phenol and carboxylic acid?

Carboxylic acid is more acidic than phenol because after removing H+ from carbocylic acid and phenol carboxylate ion is more stable than phenoxide ion due to resonance.after removing H+ lone pair is stablised by resonance by resonating on two most electronegative oxygen atom that are present in carboxylic acid.But in phenoxide ion there is only one oxygen atom.another thing, in phenol benzene ring donate the electron pair and destablise the lone pair.Therefore carboxlic acid is more acidic ...

What elements are in a carboxylic acid?

carboxylic acid, any of a class of organic compounds in which a carbon (C) atom is bonded to an oxygen (O) atom by a double bond and to a hydroxyl group (?OH) by a single bond. A fourth bond links the carbon atom to a hydrogen (H) atom or to some other univalent combining group. The carboxyl (COOH) group is so-named because of the carbonyl group (C=O) and hydroxyl group.