Introduction to Carboxylic Acids and Their Reactions

These flashcards cover vocabulary related to carboxylic acids, their properties, and their reactions as discussed in the lecture notes.

Carboxylic Acid

An organic acid characterized by the presence of a carboxyl group (-COOH).

Carboxyl Group

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

Esterification Reaction

A chemical reaction that forms an ester from an alcohol and a carboxylic acid, usually in the presence of an acid catalyst.

Amide Linkage

A bond formed when a carbonyl group is directly attached to a nitrogen atom, typical for amides.

Dimerization

The process where two identical molecules bond together due to interactions like hydrogen bonding.

Boiling Points of Carboxylic Acids

Generally higher than that of alcohols of similar molecular weight due to the formation of dimers and stronger intermolecular forces.

Hydrogen Bonding

Attractive forces between a hydrogen atom bonded to an electronegative atom and another electronegative atom.

Hydrophilic

The property of a molecule being attracted to water; often associated with polar or charged groups.

Hydrophobic

The property of a molecule that repels water; typically associated with nonpolar groups.

Saponification

The process of making soap by hydrolyzing a triglyceride in the presence of a strong base.