Carboxylic Acid Menu
Background
An introduction to carboxylic acids and their salts, including their bonding and their physical properties.
Preparation of carboxylic acids
Their preparation by the oxidation of primary alcohols and aldehydes, and by the hydrolysis of nitriles.
Simple reactions of carboxylic acids as acids
Reactions with metals, sodium hydroxide, carbonates and hydrogencarbonates, ammonia and amines.
Making esters from carboxylic acids
Reactions with alcohols to produce esters.
Reduction of carboxylic acids
The reduction of carboxylic acids to primary alcohols using lithium tetrahydridoaluminate(III) (lithium aluminium hydride).
Making acyl chlorides (acid chlorides)
Replacing the -OH in the -COOH group with chlorine using phosphorus(V) chloride, phosphorus(III) chloride or sulfur dichloride oxide (thionyl chloride).
The decarboxylation of carboxylic acids and their salts
Formation of hydrocarbons by heating the salts of carboxylic acids (and some acids) with soda lime.