levo

Organic Chemistry and Analysis

Carboxylic acids: solubility and reactions with metals, carbonates and bases

  • 2 things to know
  • Components 02 and 03

Overview

Recall questions on the hydrogen bonding that makes them soluble, and on the products with reactive metals, carbonates, metal oxides and alkalis.

What you need to know

Answer each one before you reveal it.

Your recallNot started
Numbers

Which part of the carboxyl group donates and which accepts a hydrogen bond, and why are carboxylic acids soluble in water?

Numbers

What are the general equations for a carboxylic acid reacting with magnesium, with sodium carbonate and with sodium hydroxide?

Questions from this subtopic

Each one with the model answer underneath.

  1. 1

    In the carboxyl group of a carboxylic acid, which part acts as a hydrogen bond donor when interacting with water?

    Model answer

    The O–H group of the carboxyl acts as a hydrogen bond donor.

  2. 2

    Which part of the carboxyl group acts as a hydrogen bond acceptor when a carboxylic acid dissolves in water?

    Model answer

    The C=O group acts as a hydrogen bond acceptor.

  3. 3

    Why are carboxylic acids soluble in water?

    Model answer

    The carboxyl group can form hydrogen bonds with water molecules (O–H donates and C=O accepts), allowing dissolution.

  4. 4

    What are the products when a carboxylic acid reacts with a reactive metal such as magnesium?

    Model answer

    A carboxylate salt and hydrogen gas.

  5. 5

    Write the general equation for the reaction of a carboxylic acid with magnesium.

    Model answer

    2RCOOH + Mg → (RCOO)₂Mg + H₂

  6. 6

    What products form when a carboxylic acid reacts with a carbonate such as sodium carbonate?

    Model answer

    A carboxylate salt, water and carbon dioxide.

Other ways to work this

The same content, four other ways.

What is inside Levo

Six ways to work the same material.

1Closed book
2Open book
3Closed book

The 3-step method, run for you

Answer cold, learn it, then prove it stuck. Levo tracks the jump between your first attempt and your last.

Foundations in Chemistry
Bonding and Structure
Periodic Table and Energy
Enthalpy Changes

Cram a whole paper in one sitting

Sort every topic into what you know and what you do not, then drill only the weak ones.

The order is .
201

Blank Blitz makes facts automatic

Rapid timed gap-fills on the terms and numbers you need to recall without thinking.

AThe first step is Cl• + O₃ → ClO• + O₂.
BThe second step is ClO• + O → Cl• + O₂.
CThe overall equation is O₃ + O → 2O₂.

Build It gets the exam shape right

Assemble a full-mark answer from its marking points, in the order an examiner wants them.

In ClO⁻, chlorine has oxidation number +1.
TrueFalse

Test It catches misconceptions

Spot the fault in a statement. The traps are the mistakes students actually make.

721941163128510

Brain Breaks between sessions

Short focus games to reset attention, so the next set lands better than the last.

Every question in Organic Chemistry and Analysis, on a schedule.

Attempt a question from memory, write the correct version, then attempt it again. Levo records the jump between your first attempt and your last, and brings each question back on the day you are due to forget it.

Or £46 a year, about £3.83 a month. Cancel anytime.