How are carboxylic acids not esters?

Surely carboxylic acids are just a specific example of an ester? Why not?

Original post by When you see it...

Surely carboxylic acids are just a specific example of an ester? Why not?

Esters do not dissociate into COO- and R+ except for a few specific examples with a lewis acid catalyst

Original post by When you see it...

Surely carboxylic acids are just a specific example of an ester? Why not?

Also, esters have to have a RCOOR' group, where R' is not a hydrogen atom. If R' is a hydrogen atom, the molecule is a carboxylic acid.

Esters do not dissociate into COO- and R+ except for a few specific examples with a lewis acid catalyst

Original post by thegodofgod

Also, esters have to have a RCOOR' group, where R' is not a hydrogen atom. If R' is a hydrogen atom, the molecule is a carboxylic acid.

So carboxylic acids are a specific example of an ester then? Or is R' literally defined as being anything but hydrogen?

Original post by When you see it...

So carboxylic acids are a specific example of an ester then? Or is R' literally defined as being anything but hydrogen?

Noo the 'R' group always refers to an alkyl group. so carbon/chain of carbon atoms.

Noo the 'R' group always refers to an alkyl group. so carbon/chain of carbon atoms.

Thanks.

Making the grade: A* students share their revision tips and secrets

Waiting for uni offers: how to keep your head

Making a revision timetable that actually works

Top questions to ask at a university open day