The uses of carboxylic acids They are so extensive that they can be divided into several industries, such as pharmaceuticals (active for the manufacture of medicines based on vitamin C) or food (production of soft drinks, preparation of additives), among others.
Carboxylic acids are essentially organic acids that have a carboxyl group among their components, attached to an alkyl or aryl group. They are represented in a chemical formula as follows: COOH, and their name is due to the conjugation or combination of carbonyl (C = O) and hydroxyl.
If the carbon chain has only one carboxyl group, the acids are called monocarboxylic or fatty acids, while if it has two carboxyl groups, the acids are called dicarboxylic..
They are also known as organic acids, and are usually "weak" acids, with only 1% of the RCOOH molecules dissociated into ions (when at room temperature and in an aqueous solution).
They are weaker acids than mineral acids such as hydrochloric acid or sulfuric acid. However, its acidity is higher than that of alcohols.
They are polar substances, which form hydrogen bonds with each other or with the molecules of another substance..
Carboxylic acids occur naturally in fats, acidic dairy, and citrus fruits, and their most important uses include:
1- Additives.
2- Preservatives (Sorbic acid and benzoic acid).
3- Alkalinity regulator of many products.
4- Production of soft drinks.
5- Antimicrobial agents before the action of antioxidants. In this case, the trend is for liquid antimicrobials that enable bioavailability..
6- Main ingredient of common vinegar (Acetic acid).
7- Acidulant in carbonated drinks and food (citric acid and lactic acid).
8- Helper in the maturation of Swiss cheese (Propionic acid).
9- Making cheese, sauerkraut, fermented cabbage and soft drinks (Lactic acid).
10- Antipyretic and analgesic (Acetylsalicylic acid).
11- Active in the process of synthesis of aromas, in some drugs (butyric or butanoic acid).
12- Antifungal (Benzoic acid combined with salicylic acid).
13- Active for the manufacture of medicines based on vitamin C (Ascorbic acid).
14- Fungicide (Caprylic Acid).
15- Manufacture of some laxatives (Hydroxybutanedioic acid).
16- Manufacture of plastics and lubricants (Sorbic acid).
17- Manufacture of varnishes, elastic resins and transparent adhesives (Acrylic acid).
18- Manufacture of paints and varnishes (linoleic acid).
19- Manufacture of soaps, detergents, shampoos, cosmetics and metal cleaning products (Oleic acid).
20- Manufacture of toothpaste (salicylic acid).
21- Production of rayon acetate, photographic films and solvents for paints (Acetic acid).
22- Production of dyes and tanning (Methanoic acid).
23- Manufacture of lubricating oils, waterproof materials and paint drier (palmitic acid).
24- Manufacture of rubber (Acetic acid).
25- Elaboration of rubber and in electroplating.
26- Solvent.
27- Production of perfumes (Benzoic acid).
28- Manufacture of plasticizers and resins (Phthalic acid).
29- Manufacture of polyester (Terephthalic acid).
30- Making paraffin candles (Stearic acid).
In agriculture they are also often used to improve the quality of fruit plant crops, increasing the quantity and weight of the fruits in some plants, as well as their appearance and postharvest duration..
Carboxylic acids are very present in the advances of experimental and biochemical chemistry, especially in those related to the fermentation necessary for the production of various products of commercial interest (antibiotics, organic solvents and vitamins, among others)..
Some properties of these chemicals are:
The first four aliphatic monocarboxylic acids are liquid and soluble in water.
This property decreases if the number of carbon atoms increases, so from dodecanoic acid, they begin to be insoluble in water.
The boiling point of these substances is high due to the presence of a double hydrogen bond between their components..
This is a property that varies according to the amount of carbons since these affect the association between molecules.
From 6 carbons, an irregular rise in the melting point begins.
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