RCOOHyhdisteet
RCOOHyhdisteet, commonly known as carboxylic acids, are organic compounds characterized by the presence of a carboxyl functional group, which is a carbonyl group (C=O) bonded to a hydroxyl group (-OH). This functional group is often represented as -COOH. The general formula for a saturated monocarboxylic acid is CnH2n+1COOH. The simplest carboxylic acid is formic acid (HCOOH), also known as methanoic acid. Acetic acid (CH3COOH), the main component of vinegar, is another common example.
Carboxylic acids exhibit acidic properties due to the polar nature of the O-H bond in the carboxyl