karboksüüülhape

Karboksüülhape is the Estonian term for carboxylic acid. Carboxylic acids are organic compounds that contain one or more carboxyl functional groups. A carboxyl group consists of a carbonyl group (C=O) bonded to a hydroxyl group (-OH). The general formula for a carboxylic acid is R-COOH, where R represents a hydrogen atom or an alkyl or aryl group. These compounds are acidic due to the ability of the carboxyl group to donate a proton (H+).

The simplest carboxylic acid is formic acid, HCOOH, where R is a hydrogen atom. Acetic acid, CH3COOH, is a common example where R is a methyl group. Carboxylic acids are found in nature and play important roles in biological systems, such as amino acids and fatty acids. They are also widely used in industry as building blocks for polymers, pharmaceuticals, and food additives. Their properties vary with the length and nature of the R group, affecting their solubility, boiling point, and acidity. They can react with bases to form salts, with alcohols to form esters, and undergo reduction to form alcohols.