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The Reactions of Carboxylic Acids.

What are the Reactions of Carboxylic Acids?

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

1. The reaction of carboxylic acids with alkalis.

Carboxylic acids are neutralised by alkalis, for example

methanoic acid + sodium hydroxide arrow sodium methanoate + water.
 HCO2H(aq)       +     NaOH(aq)          arrow     HCO2Na(aq)       +  H2O(l)


ethanoic acid + potassium hydroxide arrow potassium ethanoate + water.
 CH3CO2H(aq)    +        KOH(aq)          arrow     CH3CO2K(aq)     +    H2O(l)

 

2. The reaction of carboxylic acids with carbonates.

Carboxylic acids are neutralised by carbonates, for example

ethanoic acid + sodium carbonate arrow sodium ethanoate + carbon dioxide + water.
 2CH3CO2H(aq)   +   Na2CO3(s)     arrow       2CH3CO2Na(aq)   +  CO2(g)   +   H2O(l)


butanoic acid + zinc carbonate arrow zinc butanoate + carbon dioxide + water.
 2C3H7CO2H(aq)  +  ZnCO3(s)  arrow   (C3H7CO2)2Zn(aq)   +  CO2(g)  +  H2O(l)

 

3. The reaction of carboxylic acids with metals.

magnesium + ethanoic acid arrow magnesium ethanoate + hydrogen.
Mg(s)    +   2CH3CO2H(aq)  arrow     (CH3CO2)2Mg(aq)      +       H2(g)


zinc  +  propanoic acid  arrow  zinc propanoate  +  hydrogen.
Zn(s) + 2C2H5CO2H(aq) arrow    (C2H5CO2)2Zn(aq)   +  H2(g)

 

4. The reaction of carboxylic acids with alcohols.
Carboxylic acids will react with alcohols to form esters.

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