Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Verified for the 2026 exam
Verified for the 2026 exam•Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Definition
Carboxylic acids are organic compounds containing a carboxyl group (-COOH). They are acidic because they can donate a proton (H+) from their -COOH group.
Related terms
Acidity Constant (Ka): The measure of strength of an acid in solution, which shows how readily it donates protons.
Esterification: A reaction between carboxylic acid and alcohol producing esters and water.
Amino Acids: Organic compounds composed of amine (-NH2) and carboxyl (-COOH) functional groups along with side chains specific to each amino acid.