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Carboxylic acids and derivatives (A-level only) key terms
Study Carboxylic acids and derivatives (A-level only) with curriculum-aligned Key Terms resources, practice links, and exam-focused support.
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key terms
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Carboxylic acids and derivatives (A-level only)
Key terms
Carboxylic acid
An organic compound containing a carboxyl group (-COOH) that can donate a proton.
Dissociation constant (Kₐ)
A measure of the strength of an acid in solution, representing the equilibrium between the undissociated acid and its ions.
Esterification
A reaction between a carboxylic acid and an alcohol to form an ester and water.
Hydrolysis
A chemical reaction in which water is used to break down a compound; in the case of esters, it produces a carboxylic acid and an alcohol.
Acyl chloride
A compound derived from a carboxylic acid where the hydroxyl group is replaced by a chlorine atom.
Esterification
The chemical reaction that forms an ester from an alcohol and a carboxylic acid or acyl chloride.
Nucleophile
A species that donates an electron pair to form a chemical bond in a reaction.
Acyl chloride
A derivative of carboxylic acids where the hydroxyl group is replaced by a chlorine atom.
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