Reactions of carboxylic acids
Carboxylic acids can undergo reduction reactions. Reduction is the opposite of oxidation.
For example, ethanoic acid (CH3COOH) can be formed by the oxidation of ethanol as shown below.
As reduction is the opposite of oxidation, it can be defined as the removal of oxygen or the addition of hydrogen to a molecule.
Carboxylic acids can also react with bases to form a salt and water in neutralisation reactions. When long chain 'fatty' acids are used, the salt formed is a soap.
For example:
\(C_{17}H_{33}COOH + NaOH \rightarrow C_{17}H_{33}COONa + H_{2}O\)
sodium oxide + butanoic acid → sodium butanoate + water
potassium hydroxide + oleic acid → potassium oleate + water
copper carbonate + ethanoic acid → copper ethanoate + water + carbon dioxide