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Carboxylic Acids

What are carboxylic acids?


Carboxylic acids are organic functional groups that consist of a terminal carbonyl ($C=O$) bonded to a hydroxyl group. The general molecular formula for carboxylic acids is $R-COOH$. When the hydrogen dissociates from the carboxylic acid it turns into its anionic (salt) form and is called a carboxylate.

Figure 50.1: Carboxylic acids: Propanoic acid.
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Subsections

Alfa Diallo 2006-08-04