Carboxylic acid: Learn about carboxylic acids

Learn about carboxylic acids, a group of organic compounds with a carboxyl functional group (-COOH). Find out their structure, nomenclature, polarity, acidity, hydrogen bonding, synthesis methods, and common reactions. This page discusses carboxylic acids , prevalent in nature and found in various products. They have common names based on their sources, like formic acid from ants and acetic acid from vinegar. The … Carboxylic acids are the most common organic compounds with significant acidity. These compounds have a carboxyl group attached to hydrogen (HCOOH), an alkyl group (RCOOH), or an aryl group (ArCOOH). The carboxyl group is made up of the carbonyl group (C=O) and the hydroxyl group (OH). Learn about the structure, classification, properties and reactions of carboxylic acids and their derivatives, such as esters, amides, anhydrides and acyl chlorides. Find examples, formulas, mechanisms and reactivity orders of these organic compounds.