Illustrated Glossary of Organic Chemistry - Carboxylic acid; RCOOH; RCO2H

Illustrated Glossary of Organic Chemistry

Carboxylic acid (R COOH; R CO₂H): A molecule containing the carboxyl group. Carboxylic acids are so named after the ease in which the carboxyl group gives up a proton (pK_a usually in the range of 0-5).

General carboxylic acid structure. X = a carbon group or a hydrogen atom.

Some Common Carboxylic Acids


Formic acid		Acetic acid		Benzoic acid

Related terms: Functional group, carboxylate, ester, acid chloride, acid anhydride, alcohol, fatty acid, Bronsted-Lowry acid, acetic acid, ethanoic acid, benzoic acid, salicylic acid, lactic acid, propionic acid, propanoic acid, pyruvic acid, tartaric acid, mesotartaric acid, racemic acid, meta-chloroperoxybenzoic acid, peracetic acid, acetoacetic acid, arachidic acid, arachidonic acid, lauric acid, linoleic acid, linolenic acid, myristic acid, oleic acid, palmitic acid, stearic acid, amino acid, aspartic acid, glutamic acid, ascorbic acid, folic acid, formaldehyde, formyl group, hydroxyl group, carbonyl group
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