Reactions of Carboxylic Acids (Edexcel IGCSE Chemistry)

Spec point — 8.8C

Reactions of carboxylic acids

• The carboxylic acids behave like other acids

• They react with:

  • metals to form a salt and hydrogen
  • carbonates to form a salt, water and carbon dioxide gas

• The salts formed by the reaction of carboxylic acids all end –anoate

• So methanoic acid forms a salt called methanoate, ethanoic a salt called ethanoate etc.

• In the reaction with metals, a metal salt and hydrogen gas are produced

Example reactions of carboxylic acids

• The reaction of ethanoic acid with metals such as magnesium forms the salt magnesium ethanoate and hydrogen gas:

2CH₃COOH + Mg → (CH₃COO)₂Mg + H₂

• In the reaction with carbonates a metal salt, water and carbon dioxide gas are produced
• For example in reaction with potassium carbonate the salt potassium butanoate is formed by reaction with butanoic acid:

2CH₃CH₂CH₂COOH + K₂CO₃→ 2CH₃CH₂CH₂COOK + H₂O + CO₂

Exam Hint You are not expected to be able to write balanced equations for the reactions of carboxylic acids- they are included here for background information.