Question

Write the general formula of carboxylic acids?

Answer 1

A carboxyl functional group contains Carbon $\left(\mathrm{C}\right)$ atom bonded to hydroxyl group $(-\mathrm{OH})$ bonded by a single bond and Oxygen $\left(\mathrm{O}\right)$ by a double bond.

• The carboxylic acids have the general formula is ${\mathrm{C}}_{\mathrm{n}}{\mathrm{H}}_{2\mathrm{n}+1}\mathrm{COOH}$

The value of $\mathrm{n}$ is $0,1,2,...$

Example: Formic acid $\left(\mathrm{HCOOH}\right)$ and Acetic acid $\left({\mathrm{CH}}_3\mathrm{COOH}\right)$ are carboxylic acids that follow the general formula of carboxylic acids.