Chemical Properties of Carboxylic Acids

Having worked through the full chemistry of the carbonyl group in aldehydes and ketones (section 12.8), the chapter turns in its final major section to the characteristic chemistry of the -COOH group specifically, in carboxylic acids. Seven numbered subsections follow: 12.9.1 explains WHY carboxylic acids are acidic at all, and how substituents tune that acid strength; 12.9.2 gives simple laboratory tests for the -COOH group; and 12.9.3 through 12.9.7 each cover one further characteristic -COOH reaction in turn -- formation of an acyl chloride, fo …