Carboxylic Acids and Their Derivatives

A collection of vocabulary flashcards related to carboxylic acids and their derivatives, focusing on key concepts, definitions, and mechanisms.

Carboxylic Acid

An organic compound containing a carboxyl functional group (-COOH).

Carboxyl Group

The functional group consisting of a carbon atom double bonded to an oxygen atom and single bonded to a hydroxyl group (-COOH).

Nomenclature of Carboxylic Acids

The systematic naming of carboxylic acids, typically using the suffix 'oic acid'.

Dicarboxylic Acids

Carboxylic acids that contain two carboxyl functional groups, named with the suffix 'dioic acid'.

Brønsted Acid

A substance that can donate a proton (H+) to another substance.

Carboxylate Ion

The conjugate base of a carboxylic acid, formed when the acid donates a proton.

Electrophile

A reagent species that accepts an electron pair from a nucleophile in a chemical reaction.

Nucleophilic Acyl Substitution

A reaction mechanism involving the substitution of a leaving group by a nucleophile at the carbonyl carbon.

Acid Halide

A carboxylic acid derivative where the hydroxyl group is replaced by a halogen atom.

Ester

A carboxylic acid derivative formed from an acid and an alcohol with the elimination of water.

Amide

A carboxylic acid derivative where the hydroxyl group is replaced by an amine or ammonia.

Nitrile

An organic compound containing a cyano group (-C≡N), which can be converted to carboxylic acids.

Resonance Stabilization

A phenomenon where a molecule can be represented by two or more valid Lewis structures, leading to increased stability.