(cool) Practical uses of Carboxylic acid?

Question

does anyone know some practical examples of uses of Carboxylic acid?

If possible something teenagers aged 15-18 would know and/or use

Answer 1

Formic acid - present in fire ant stings
Acetic acid - used in vinegar, also present in wine
Butyric acid - present in rancid butter, parmesan cheese and vomit

Answer 2

If you can get your hands on one ( i.e. ethanoic acid) and mix it with an alcohol (if you get the right combo) you can make ESTERS.

Esters are the compounds that give objects their smell and taste, i.e. what makes a pear smell like a pear.

This link will tell you what alcohol and acid to mix again, if you can get you hands on them:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Esters#Ester_reactions

N.B. Some of the names are the old fashoined ones and are not the proper names for them.

Search wikipedia for the proper names.

Just so you can name them:

1. The first part (ending in "yl") is the ALCOHOL
2. The last part (ending in "oate") is the ACID

e.g. Ethyl Hexanoate

Ethyl => Ethanol

Hexanoate => Hexanoic acid


N.b.2 You have to use H2SO4 (Sulphuric acid) as a catalyst.

Answer 3

Acetic Acid, the one contained in vinegar is the most typical example of a carboxilic acid. Can also be called Ethanoic Acid

Answer 4

Acetic acid - vinegar
Citric acid - lemon juice, lime juice, orange juice
Tartaric acid - tartrates, sour tastes of many food items
Lactic acid - sour cream, yogurt, butter milk
benzoic acid - used in many prepared foods ( as sodium salt)
to reduce spoilage

Answer 5

Carbolic acid was used as an antiseptic in the operating back in Pasteur's time .

Answer 6

Vinegrettes go well on salads....