Name: Acetaldehyde and Acetone
Uploaded: 2019-07-19
Duration: 3 min 15 s
Description: Do you know carbonyl compounds are used in medicines? In this video, you will be able to understand the important uses of the two most common compounds, acet...

Question

What are carboxylic acids? Why long chain carboxylic acids are called fatty acids? Discuss the common and

IUPAC

system of nomenclature for naming substituted carboxylic acids.

Accepted Answer

Organic compounds containing carboxylic group are known as carboxylic acids. The carboxylic group is made up of carbonyl group and hydroxyl group. The acid is known as aliphatic carboxylic acid, if the carboxylic group is attached to aliphatic alkyl chain. It is known as aromatic, if the carboxyl group is attached to aryl group. Acids are classified as mono, di and tri-carboxylic acids, based on the number of carboxyl groups present in their molecules. Monocarboxylic acids are saturated or unsaturated, depending on the hydrocarbon part of the structure. Examples are butanoic acid (saturated), $β$ -butenoic acid (unsaturated), oxalic acid (dicarboxylic acid), phthalic acid (aromatic acid), etc.

The saturated monocarboxylic aliphatic acids are also known as fatty acids. This is because most of the higher members are obtained by the hydrolysis of fats. The fatty acids are represented by the general formula $C_{n} H_{2 n} O_{2}$ , or $C_{n} H_{2 n + 1} . COOH$ .

Carboxylic acids have two different systems of nomenclature:

1. Common system: The common names of most acids are derived from Latin, indicating their source. Examples are formic acid (formica- ants), acetic acid (acetum- vinegar), etc. Branched and substituted acids are named as derivatives of a parent acid, and their positions are indicated by Greek letters. The carbon atom adjacent to carboxyl group is designated as $α$ -carbon. In another system, the saturated acids are derivatives of acetic acid. Examples are methylacetic acid, isopropylacetic acid, etc.

2. IUPAC system: In this system, the carboxylic acids are named as alkanoic acids. The position of the substituents is indicated by numbering, beginning with the carboxyl group. Hydroxyl groups take precedence over double bonds, which further take precedence over halogens and alkyl groups. Acids outrank all common groups. Compounds with two carboxylic groups are named as -dioic acids.

What are carboxylic acids? Why long chain carboxylic acids are called fatty acids? Discuss the common and $IUPAC$ system of nomenclature for naming substituted carboxylic acids.

Important Questions on Aldehydes, Ketones and Carboxylic Acids

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