Questions about Carboxylic Acids (Organic Chemistry)
20 multiple-choice questions about Carboxylic Acids (Organic Chemistry), each with five alternatives (A–E). The correct answers with extended explanations are presented at the end.
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Multiple Choice Questions: Carboxylic Acids (Organic Chemistry)
1. What is the functional group of carboxylic acids?
A) –CO–
B) –COOH
C) –OH
D) –CHO
E) –O–
2. What is the IUPAC name of HCOOH?
A) Ethanoic acid
B) Methanoic acid
C) Propanoic acid
D) Formic acid
E) Acetic acid
3. What is the common name of CH₃COOH?
A) Methanoic acid
B) Acetone
C) Acetic acid
D) Formic acid
E) Propanoic acid
4. What is the typical reaction of carboxylic acids with bases?
A) Substitution
B) Combustion
C) Neutralization
D) Addition
E) Elimination
5. What is the product of a reaction between a carboxylic acid and an alcohol?
A) Ketone
B) Amide
C) Ether
D) Ester
E) Aldehyde
6. What is the IUPAC name of CH₃CH₂COOH?
A) Methanoic acid
B) Ethanoic acid
C) Propanoic acid
D) Butanoic acid
E) Acetic acid
7. What is the acidity of carboxylic acids primarily due to?
A) Presence of hydroxyl group
B) Resonance stabilization of carboxylate ion
C) Hydrogen bonding
D) Large molecular weight
E) Carbonyl group only
8. Which of the following compounds is a dicarboxylic acid?
A) Citric acid
B) Formic acid
C) Oxalic acid
D) Acetone
E) Methanol
9. What is the boiling point behavior of carboxylic acids?
A) Very low
B) Similar to alkanes
C) Higher due to strong hydrogen bonding
D) Always gaseous
E) Lower than alcohols
10. Carboxylic acids are typically:
A) Basic
B) Neutral
C) Weak acids
D) Strong acids
E) Amphoteric
11. What is the result of oxidizing a primary alcohol completely?
A) Ether
B) Aldehyde
C) Ketone
D) Carboxylic acid
E) Ester
12. What does a carboxylic acid form when it reacts with a strong base?
A) Alkene
B) Salt and water
C) Alcohol
D) Amide
E) Aldehyde
13. Which of the following is NOT a carboxylic acid derivative?
A) Ester
B) Amide
C) Aldehyde
D) Acid chloride
E) Anhydride
14. What is the main intermolecular force in carboxylic acids?
A) Ionic bonding
B) Hydrogen bonding
C) Van der Waals forces
D) Metallic bonding
E) Dipole-dipole interactions only
15. What is the carboxylate ion?
A) The conjugate base of a carboxylic acid
B) A form of alcohol
C) A neutral molecule
D) A gas
E) A hydrocarbon
16. What is the suffix used for naming carboxylic acids in IUPAC nomenclature?
A) –al
B) –one
C) –oic acid
D) –ol
E) –ate
17. What is the IUPAC name of CH₃CH₂CH₂COOH?
A) Butanoic acid
B) Propanoic acid
C) Pentanoic acid
D) Ethanoic acid
E) Methanoic acid
18. What happens to a carboxylic acid in aqueous solution?
A) It ionizes partially
B) It ionizes completely
C) It forms an ester
D) It precipitates
E) It reacts with air
19. What is formed when acetic acid is treated with ethanol in the presence of sulfuric acid?
A) Acetone
B) Ethyl acetate
C) Acetamide
D) Acetaldehyde
E) Ethanol
20. What distinguishes a carboxylic acid from an aldehyde?
A) One has a hydroxyl group attached to the carbonyl carbon
B) One contains nitrogen
C) One is a base
D) One is cyclic
E) One is ionic
- Questions about Alcohols (Organic Chemistry)
- Questions about Ethers (Organic Chemistry)
- Questions on Aldehydes and Ketones (Organic Chemistry)
✅ Answer Key with Extended Explanations
1. B – Carboxylic acids contain the –COOH (carboxyl) group.
2. B – HCOOH is methanoic acid (common name: formic acid).
3. C – CH₃COOH is acetic acid, a common weak acid in vinegar.
4. C – Carboxylic acids undergo neutralization with bases to form salts and water.
5. D – A carboxylic acid + alcohol forms an ester via esterification.
6. C – CH₃CH₂COOH is propanoic acid, a three-carbon acid.
7. B – The acidity is due to resonance stabilization of the carboxylate ion.
8. C – Oxalic acid has two carboxylic acid groups (–COOH).
9. C – Due to strong hydrogen bonding, carboxylic acids have high boiling points.
10. C – They are weak acids but stronger than alcohols or phenols.
11. D – Complete oxidation of a primary alcohol gives a carboxylic acid.
12. B – They form salts and water with strong bases.
13. C – Aldehydes are not carboxylic acid derivatives.
14. B – They form hydrogen bonds, especially dimers, increasing boiling point.
15. A – The carboxylate ion (RCOO⁻) is the conjugate base of a carboxylic acid.
16. C – IUPAC names use the suffix –oic acid for carboxylic acids.
17. A – CH₃CH₂CH₂COOH is butanoic acid (4-carbon chain).
18. A – They partially ionize in water, acting as weak acids.
19. B – Reaction of acetic acid + ethanol + H₂SO₄ yields ethyl acetate (ester).
20. A – Carboxylic acids have an –OH attached to the carbonyl carbon, unlike aldehydes.
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