GCSE SCIENCE CHEMISTRY HIGH SCHOOL - What is the Chemical Equation of the Reaction of Carboxylic Acid with Alkali - Metal - Carbonate - Alcohol - Balanced

Reactions of Carboxylic Acids.

Carboxylic acids react in the same way as dilute mineral acids.

1. Reaction with alkalis.

Carboxylic acids are neutralised by alkalis, for example

methanoic acid + sodium hydroxide sodium methanoate + water.
HCO₂H_(aq) + NaOH_(aq) HCO₂Na_(aq) + H₂O_(l)

ethanoic acid + potassium hydroxide potassium ethanoate + water.
CH₃CO₂H_(aq) + KOH_(aq) CH₃CO₂K_(aq) + H₂O_(l)

2. Reaction with carbonates.

Carboxylic acids are neutralised by carbonates, for example

ethanoic acid+sodium carbonate sodium ethanoate+carbon dioxide+water.
2CH₃CO₂H_(aq) + Na₂CO₃_(s) 2CH₃CO₂Na_(aq) + CO₂_(g) + H₂O_(l)

butanoic acid + zinc carbonate zinc butanoate + carbon dioxide + water.
2C₃H₇CO₂H_(aq) + ZnCO₃_(s) (C₃H₇CO₂)₂Zn_(aq) + CO₂_(g) + H₂O_(l)

3. Reaction with metals.

magnesium + ethanoic acid magnesium ethanoate + hydrogen.
Mg_(s) + 2CH₃CO₂H_(aq) (CH₃CO₂)₂Mg_(aq) + H_2(g)

zinc + propanoic acid zinc propanoate + hydrogen.
Zn_(s) + 2C₂H₅CO₂H_(aq) (C₂H₅CO₂)₂Zn_(aq) + H_2(g)

4. Reaction with alcohols.
Carboxylic acids will react with alcohols to form esters.