# Ethanol can be oxidised to form a carboxylic acid. Describe the properties of carboxylic acids, including their functional group, their behaviour as acids, and name the carboxylic acid produced when ethanol is oxidised.

> OCR A-Level Chemistry B: Salters (H433) — 6.1 Aromatic compounds, carbonyls and acids · Describe · 5 marks

> Alcohols are a homologous series of organic compounds that can be oxidised to form carboxylic acids. Carboxylic acids are widely used in food preservation and industrial processes.

## Mark scheme (5 marks)

1. Carboxylic acids contain the functional group –COOH
2. The carboxylic acid produced when ethanol is oxidised is ethanoic acid
3. Carboxylic acids are acidic / have typical acidic properties
4. Carboxylic acids react with metals / carbonates / bases (any one correct example of acidic behaviour)
5. Carboxylic acids belong to a homologous series; the first four members are methanoic acid, ethanoic acid, propanoic acid and butanoic acid (any correct additional member named beyond ethanoic acid, or correct identification of the series)

## Key terms

- [carboxylic acids](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/glossary/carboxylic-acids)
- [functional group](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/glossary/functional-group)
- [oxidised](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/glossary/oxidised)

## Related

- [Revision notes for OCR A-Level Chemistry B: Salters (H433)](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/learn)
- [How to answer "Describe" questions](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/tools/command-word-cheatsheet)
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