Test for a carboxylic acid

Reply 1

I quick search on google came up with the following website:

http://www.wellesley.edu/Chemistry/chem211lab/Orgo_Lab_Manual/Appendix/ClassificationTests/carboxylic.html

Reply 2

Mustard-man

papz_007

anybody know a test for a carboxylic acid

Na2Co3 also gives a salt, CO2 and water.
Or you can reduced it using LIAlH4 or NaBH4 giving a primiary alcohol.
Or using PCl5 gives acid chloride + POCl3 and HCl gas (steamy white fumes)
Carboxylic acid + alcohol gives ester + water
Caboxylic acid + NaOH gives salt and water

these are the main ones (that I can remeber)

Reply 3

Dal

as far as i know, to test for a carboxylc acid is to use Na2Co3 which gives of CO2-this the basic test for an acid so in order to prove there is an OH grop, use PCl5-which gives of HCl-white steamy fumes-when tested with the top of a conc. NH3 bottle gives dense white clouds!