Naming: Carboxylic acids are named using the suffix 'oic' (pronounced like the words "oh ick.").

Forming Acids:

Oxidation of primary alcohols and aldehydes:

R₁CH₂OH + [O] --> R₁COOH

R₁CHO + [O] --> R₁COOH

Reactions of Acids:

Acids can be reduced to aldehydes and primary alcohols.

Acids react with bases to form salts (call "oates")

CH₃COOH + NaOH --> CH₃COO^- + Na⁺ + H₂O

Strength of Acids:

Electron withdrawing groups make carboxylic acids stronger. Chloroacetic acid is stronger than acetic acid.

The strength of the acid is measured in terms of the size of its equilibrium constant. The larger K_a, the stronger the acid. Equilibrium constants are expressed as -log₁₀(K_a), or pK_a. The smaller pK_a, the stronger the acid. (K_a = 10^-pK_a)

Keto groups attract electrons, and strengthen acids. The closer the carbonyl group to the carboxyl group, the stronger the acid. Multiple bonds increase the efficiency of most electron withdrawing groups.