What is the functional group present in carboxylic acids?

The functional group present in carboxylic acids is the carboxyl group. This group is characterized by the presence of both a carbonyl (C=O) and a hydroxyl (–OH) group, which are bonded to the same carbon atom. The general structure of the carboxyl group is –COOH.

Carboxylic acids are organic compounds that contain this functional group and are known for their acidic properties. The presence of the carboxyl group makes carboxylic acids more polar than other functional groups and allows them to participate in hydrogen bonding, which impacts their physical properties, such as boiling points and solubility in water. This distinctive feature is what classifies these compounds within the broader category of organic molecules.

Understanding the role of the carboxyl group is essential for recognizing how carboxylic acids behave in chemical reactions and how they interact with other functional groups in organic chemistry.