Question

explain alkanoic acid?

Answer 1

Alkanoic acid:

Carbon compounds containing a carboxylic functional group, -COOH are called carboxylic acids. The carboxyl group consists of a carbonyl group -CO attached to a hydroxyl group -OH, hence its name carboxyl. The carboxylic acids may be aliphatic (RCOOH) or aromatic (ArCOOH).

The aliphatic (RCOOH) carboxylic acids are known as alkanoic acids. Here R is alkyl group which may be -CH₃ Methyl, -C₂H₅ Ethyl and so on.

General formula for alkanoic acid is C_nH_2n+1COOH, where n = 0, 1,2,3......

IUPAC naming rule is

Alkane + oic acid ------> Alkanoic acid

For e.g.

n=o HCOOH Methanoic acid

n=1 CH₃COOH Ethanoic acid

n=3 CH₃CH₂COOH Propanoic acid