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.
This definitions covers Key Definitions within Carboxylic Acids for GCSE Chemistry. Revise Carboxylic Acids in Organic Chemistry for GCSE Chemistry with 22 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.
Practice questions for Carboxylic Acids
What is the functional group present in all carboxylic acids?
Explain why carboxylic acids are described as weak acids.