Carboxylic acid

The carboxylic acid has a formula R-COOH and a structure that involves the carbon sharing a double bond with an oxygen molecule and another bond joining the carbon group to a OH group made up of oxygen bound to hydrogen. This carboxyl group is always found at the end of the molecule. In water a carboxylic acid will partially dissociate into carboxylate ions and H⁺ ions. A carboxylic acid can be obtained by oxidising an aldehyde.