C H E MI S T R Y 12

CARBOXYLI
C ACID
CA R BOX Y L I C
A CI D

STRUCTUR
 CA R BOX Y L I C
A CI D

PHYSICAL
PROPERTIES
CA R BOX Y L I C
A CI D

NOMENCLATUR
E
 Methanoic Acid
--FORMIC ACID
found in ants

• The parent chain is

Methane
• Drop the “e” and
add the suffix --oic
acid
 Butanoic Acid
--BUTYRIC ACID
found in rancid butter
• The parent chain is
butane
• Drop the “e” and
add the suffix --oic
acid
 Hexanoic Acid
--CAPROIC ACID
• The parent group is found in goats’ milk
Hexane.
• Drop the “e” and add
the suffix --oic acid
 2-Hydroxypropanoic Acid
--LACTIC ACID
found in muscle fluid

• The parent chain is

propane
• Carbon-1 is the
where the carboxyl H3CCHCOOH
group is located |
• The Hydroxyl group OH
is located on
carbon-2
 Ethanedioic Acid
--OXALIC ACID
found in rhubarb

● The parent chain is

ethane
● Add the suffix --dioic
acid to the end
because there are two HOOCCOOH
Carboxyl groups
CA R BOX Y L I C
A CI D

APPLICATION
S
 Us e s fo r
C a r b o x y lic A c id s
• U s e d to p re s e rv e fo o d s
b e c a u s e it k ills b a c t e r ia
th a t c a u s e s fo o d to
s p o il
• U s e d a s p a in k ille r s in
d if f e r e n t p a r t s o f
Eu ro p e
• U s e d in la t e x p a in t
CA R BOX Y L I C
A CI D

NEGATIVE
EFFECTS
 Believe It or Not
O k a y , it ’ s
r e a lly n o t t h a t
u n b e lie v a b le
b u t h e y ...…
g iv e u s a b r e a k !
 Believe It or Not
Did you know…
Some forms of Carboxylic Acid are used as an illegal
depressant in some European countries.

Did you know…

The burn in your side when you run a lot is caused by
Lactic acid (a Carboxylic Acid).
 CARBOXLIC ACIDS
…are very important industrially…
… used in the production of polymers,
pharmaceutical solvents and food preservatives
CARBOXLIC ACIDS
…its production

causes air pollution

CARBOXLIC ACIDS
… can cause skin and

eye irritation
CARBOXLIC ACIDS
also causes…

Pulmonary edema and

Breast Cancer
 CARBOXLIC ACIDS
… is also

persistent organic pollutants

Abraham was born with no arms or legs after he was
poisoned by harmful pesticides sprayed on the
fields where his mother was picking tomatoes.
No one can deny that
Carboxylic Acids have
indeed done good but
it is up to us to safeguard
and set limits for better.