CHEMISTRY GUIDE

This page looks at the simple reactions of carboxylic acids as acids, including their reactions with metals, metal hydroxides, carbonates and hydrogencarbonates, ammonia and amines. Note:   This page covers all the reactions likely to be asked by any of the UK syllabuses for 16 - 18 year olds, but no single syllabus is likely to want all of them. Check your syllabus and past papers to find out what you need to know. If you are a studying a UK-based syllabus and haven't got these, follow this link to find out how to get hold of them. The acidity of the carboxylic acids Why are carboxylic acids acidic? Using the definition of an acid as a "substance which donates protons (hydrogen ions) to other things", the carboxylic acids are acidic because of the hydrogen in the -COOH group. In solution in water, a hydrogen ion is transferred from the -COOH group to a water molecule. For exampl...