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Carboxylic acids show the normal characteristic reactions of acids.

Reaction with carbonate

acid + metal carbonate → salt + water + carbon dioxide

For example:

ethanoic acid + calcium carbonate → calcium ethanoate + water + carbon dioxide

2CH₃COOH + CaCO₃ → (CH₃COO)₂Ca + H₂O + CO₂

It is usual to write the formula of the salts with the “-anoate” bit first, so sodium methanoate would be written HCOONa; magnesium propanoate would be written (C₂H₅COO)₂Mg.

Reaction with hydroxides

acid + soluble hydroxide → salt + water

For example:

ethanoic acid + sodium hydroxide → sodium ethanoate + water

CH₃COOH + NaOH → CH₃COONa + H₂O

Reaction with metals

acid + metal → salt + hydrogen

For example:

ethanoic acid + magnesium → magnesium ethanoate + hydrogen

2CH₃COOH + Mg → (CH₃COO)₂Mg + H₂

The observations would be as expected in unit 1.8 for the reactions of acids.

Prescribed Practical C7 - Investigate the reactions of carboxylic acids