What is common when carboxylic acid is reacted with base or with alcohol?
Correct answer: D. Formation of water
- A. Catalyst
- B. Formation of ester
- C. Formation of salt
- D. Formation of water
Explanation
When a carboxylic acid is reacted with a base, such as sodium hydroxide, it undergoes neutralization to form salt and water. For example, the reaction between acetic acid and sodium hydroxide produces sodium acetate and water:CH3COOH + NaOH → CH3COO−Na+ + H2OWhen a carboxylic acid is reacted with an alcohol in the presence of a catalyst, such as concentrated sulfuric acid, it undergoes esterification to form an ester and water. For example, the reaction between acetic acid and ethanol produces ethyl acetate and water:CH3COOH + C2H5OH → CH3COOC2H5 + H2OTherefore, the formation of water is a common feature in both reactions.
Last updated
About Reactivity of Carboxylic Acids
Carboxylic acids show acidic behaviour because their carboxylate ions are resonance-stabilised, and electron-withdrawing groups can change their strength. Reactions include neutralisation, esterification, formation of acid chlorides and amides, reduction, decarboxylation and substitution at the acyl carbon, which differs from the reactions of phenols.
Practise Carboxylic Acids
550 free Carboxylic Acids MCQs from Chemistry, each with the correct answer and an explanation. Unlimited attempts, no account needed.
Exams that ask Chemistry questions like this
Chemistry is on 12 papers prepared for on TestUstad, and all of them draw the same bank, so this question is worth knowing for every one of them.
Related questions
Acetic acid is soluble in?
An acid with unpleasant smell_________________?
Arrange the following in increasing strength of carboxylic acid with respect to chloro-substituted acids?
Carboxylic acid forms alcohol in the presence of LiAlH4 and the process is:
Carboxylic acid on reduction with HI / phosphorous yields_________________?