Question detail
What is the product of the esterification reaction between a carboxylic acid and an alcohol?
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. An ester and water.
- B. An acid anhydride.
- C. A ketone.
- D. A carboxylic acid.
Answer
An ester and water.
Explanation
The correct option is An ester and water.. An ester and water. 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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