Question

how is an organic acid formed?
how is an organic acid formed?
@Biology

Answer 1

Organic compounds having functional group –COOH behave like acids and hence they are known as organic acids. The functional group –COOH is called the carboxyl group and thus the organic acids are also called as carboxylic acids. The bonds in a carboxyl group are such that the C has a double bond to O and a single bond to which the hydroxyl group OH is attached. The simplest carboxylic acid is methanoic acid HCOOH. This is commonly known as formic acid. Since it has one carbon atom, the prefix “meth” is used for it from the IUPAC nomenclature. The next acid with two carbon atoms is called ethanoic acid CH3COOH. Its common name is acetic acid. The IUPAC name has prefix “eth” attached to the ethanoic acid because it has two carbon atoms.

The carboxyl acids with functional group –COOH attached to alkane molecule forms a homologous series. Two hydrogen atoms of one of the carbon atoms in an alkane are replaced simultaneously by an oxygen atom and a hydroxyl group, to make a carboxylic acid. The oxygen atom is double bonded to the carbon atom. Thus general formula for carboxylic acid is R-COOH where R is an alkyl group, like methyl CH3, ethyl C2H5, propyl C3H7, etc. Only it has to be remembered that in case of the simplest of the acids namely formic acid H-COOH, R is a hydrogen atom.

Answer 2

Can you please elaborate more on the question do you mean the chemistry on how they are formed?