This definitions covers Key Definitions within Carboxylic Acids for GCSE Chemistry. Revise Carboxylic Acids in Organic Chemistry for GCSE Chemistry with 20 exam-style questions and 15 flashcards. This topic appears less often, but it can still be a useful differentiator on mixed-topic papers. It is section 9 of 15 in this topic. Make sure you can use the exact wording confidently, because definition marks are often lost through vague language.
Topic position
Section 9 of 15
Practice
20 questions
Recall
15 flashcards
📖 Key Definitions
Carboxylic acid: An organic compound containing the carboxyl functional group (-COOH). They are weak acids that partially dissociate in water. Named with the suffix "-oic acid" (e.g., eth-anoic acid).
Weak acid: An acid that only partially dissociates (ionises) in water. The equilibrium R-COOH ⇌ R-COO⁻ + H⁺ lies to the left, meaning most of the acid remains undissociated.
Carboxyl group (-COOH): The functional group of carboxylic acids, consisting of a carbonyl group (C=O) and a hydroxyl group (OH) on the same carbon. The H in -COOH is the acidic hydrogen.