A carboxylic acid is an organic compound that contains a carboxyl functional group (-COOH). This special group is made of a carbonyl group (C=O) and a hydroxyl group (-OH) attached to the same carbon atom. This structure is what gives them their characteristic acidic properties. Carboxylic acids are the most common organic compounds with significant acidity. These compounds have a carboxyl group attached to hydrogen (HCOOH), an alkyl group (RCOOH), or an aryl group (ArCOOH). The carboxyl group is made up of the carbonyl group (C=O) and the hydroxyl group (OH). Learn about the structure, classification, properties and reactions of carboxylic acids and their derivatives, such as esters, amides, anhydrides and acyl chlorides. Find examples, formulas, mechanisms and reactivity orders of these organic compounds. Carboxylic acids are the organic compounds containing the carboxyl group (-COOH) as a functional group. Nomenclature of Carboxylic Acids .
