Question detail
What is the reason for the acidic behavior of carboxylic acids?
Try the question, check the answer, then read the explanation to understand the curriculum point.
At a glance
MCQ
Type
practice
Style
Topic
Carboxylic acids and derivatives (A-level only)
Question
- A. They can donate protons due to the presence of the -COOH group.
- B. They have a high molecular weight.
- C. They contain a carbon-carbon double bond.
- D. They are soluble in water.
Answer
They can donate protons due to the presence of the -COOH group.
Explanation
The correct option is They can donate protons due to the presence of the -COOH group.. They can donate protons due to the presence of the -COOH group. is the best answer because it directly supports the AQA A-Level Chemistry objective to explain acidic behaviour of carboxylic acids. This reasoning is anchored to Carboxylic acids, esters and acyl derivatives (A-level only) in Carboxylic acids and derivatives (A-level only), and it separates carboxylic acid from similar A-Level ideas rather than relying on a vague recall statement. Other options are weaker if they use the wrong evidence, calculation, mechanism, observation, unit, or conclusion for this subtopic.
Common mistake
Misunderstanding Acidic Behaviour
Students often confuse the acidic behaviour of carboxylic acids with that of alcohols, thinking both have similar properties.
Remember that carboxylic acids contain a carboxyl group (-COOH) which can donate a proton (H+), while alcohols do not have this ability.
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