- carboxylic acids are weak acids Strong and Weak Acids → as they partially ionise in water to form a carboxylate ion and hydrogen ion (low concentration of H+ ions)
Equation
equation for partial ionisation
like other acids → carboxylic acids → also react with reactive metals, carbonates, bases
- carboxylic acids exhibit same chemical properties of acids
Reaction with Reactive Metals
Reaction with Carbonates
Reaction with Bases
Reaction with Alcohols to Form Esters
carboxylic acids also react with alcohols → form organic compounds called esters. Formation of Esters
Ethanol is warmed with ethanoic acid, and in the presence of a few drops of concentrated sulfuric acid as catalyst → ester is formed