• All have -COOH functional group attached to the first carbon

• Their general formula is CnH2n+1COOH

• They dissolve in water and therefore are weakly acidic solutions

• The 1st two are liquid @ r.t.p. (methanoic acid: nettle and ant stings, ethanoic acid: acid found in vinegar)

• The suffix is -anoic acid

Due to being weak, organic acids, they undergo the usual acid reactions.

1) acid + alkali → metal salt + water

ethanoic acid + sodium hydroxide → sodium ethanoate + water

CH3COOH + NaOH → CH3COONa + H2O

* note: the salt always ends in “-oate” (e.g. methanoic acid → methanoate)

2) acid + metal carbonate → metal salt + carbon dioxide + water

ethanoic acid + calcium carbonate → calcium ethanoate + carbon dioxide + water

CH3COOH + CaCO3 → (CH3COO)2Ca + CO2 + H2O

*this reaction occurs in the “descaling” of hard water/limescale