Carboxylic Acids
Part of the Structure and Bonding section of Coddy's Chemistry journey. Lesson 42 of 49.
The carboxyl group, -COOH: a C=O and a C-OH on the same carbon. Ethanoic acid, CH₃COOH, is the acid of vinegar.
Ethanoic acid: the carboxyl group, -COOH, is shaded
Its H can leave as H⁺: carboxylic acids are acids. The -OH inside -COOH belongs to the carboxyl group, not to a separate hydroxyl.
Challenge
Vinegar's sharp smell comes from ethanoic acid. Mark its functional group.
Try it yourself
Functional groupsMark the functional groups in CH3COOH
Test yourselfThis lesson includes a short quiz. Start the lesson to answer it and track your progress.
All lessons in Structure and Bonding
1Ionic Bonding
Why Atoms BondForming IonsThe Ionic BondIonic FormulasPolyatomic IonsIonic LatticesRecap - Salt Factory4Polarity
Electronegativity and BondsPolar and Non-polar BondsIonic or CovalentPolar MoleculesWhen Dipoles CancelRecap - Dipole Hunt7Functional Groups
Carbon ChainsStructural FormulasAlcoholsCarboxylic AcidsEsters and EthersAldehydes, Ketones, AminesRecap - Group Finder2Covalent Bonds
Sharing ElectronsCounting Valence ElectronsDrawing Lewis StructuresDouble and Triple BondsLone PairsFormal ChargeLewis Structures of IonsRecap - Molecule Builder