Carboxylic acids
11.7What the syllabus asks of you
- Describe the reactions of carboxylic acids with: (a) metals (b) bases (c) carbonates including names and formulae of the salts produced
- Describe the formation of ethanoic acid by the oxidation of ethanol: (a) with acidified aqueous potassium manganate(VII) (b) by bacterial oxidation during vinegar production
- Describe the reaction of a carboxylic acid with an alcohol using an acid catalyst to form an ester
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Chapter 11: Carboxylic acids
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36 questions
1May / June 2026 · Paper 12 · Q17Show mark scheme →
Acarbon dioxide formed | colourless solution
Bhydrogen formed | blue solution
Ccarbon dioxide formed | blue solution
Dhydrogen formed | colourless solution
Mark scheme
2May / June 2026 · Paper 12 · Q35Show mark scheme →
Ahydrogenation
Bneutralisation
Coxidation
Dreduction
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3May / June 2026 · Paper 12 · Q36Show mark scheme →
Aethanoic acid and ethanol
Bethanol and propanoic acid
Cpropanoic acid and propanol
Dpropanol and ethanoic acid
Mark scheme
4Oct / Nov 2025 · Paper 11 · Q35Also set in Oct / Nov 2021 Paper 12Show mark scheme →
AThey are prepared by the oxidation of alkanes.
BThey decolourise bromine water.
CThey react with alcohols to form esters.
DThey react with carbonates to form a salt, hydrogen and water.
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5Oct / Nov 2025 · Paper 12 · Q8Also set in May / June 2020 Paper 12Show mark scheme →
AH–C(=O)–O–H
BCH3–C(=O)–O–H
CH–C(=O)–H
DH–O–C(=O)–O–H
Mark scheme
6Oct / Nov 2025 · Paper 12 · Q32Also set in Oct / Nov 2019 Paper 12Show mark scheme →
Aethanoic acid and ethanol
Bmethanoic acid and ethanol
Cmethanoic acid and propanol
Dpropanoic acid and methanol
Mark scheme
7Oct / Nov 2025 · Paper 12 · Q35Show mark scheme →
ACuO + CH3COOH → CH3COOCu + H2
BCuO + CH3COOH → CH3COOCu + H2O
CCuO + 2CH3COOH → (CH3COO)2Cu + H2
DCuO + 2CH3COOH → (CH3COO)2Cu + H2O
Mark scheme
8May / June 2025 · Paper 12 · Q36Show mark scheme →
Anumber of moles of water: 1; structure of the ester: CH3-CO-O-CH2-CH3
Bnumber of moles of water: 1; structure of the ester: CH3-CH2-CO-O-CH3
Cnumber of moles of water: 2; structure of the ester: CH3-CO-O-CH2-CH3
Dnumber of moles of water: 2; structure of the ester: CH3-CH2-CO-O-CH3
Mark scheme
9Oct / Nov 2024 · Paper 11 · Q19Show mark scheme →
AH-C(H)(H)-C(H)(H)-C(=O)-O-C(H)(H)-H
BH-C(H)(H)-C(=O)-O-C(H)(H)-C(H)(H)-H
CH-C(=O)-O-C(H)(H)-C(H)(H)-C(H)(H)-H
DH-O-C(=O)-C(H)(H)-C(H)(H)-C(H)(H)-H
Mark scheme
10May / June 2023 · Paper 11 · Q38Show mark scheme →
A2CH3CO2H(aq) + Mg(s) → (CH3CO2)2Mg(aq) + H2(g)
B2CH3CO2H(aq) + 2Mg(s) → 2CH3CO2Mg(aq) + H2(g)
C2CH3CO2H(aq) + K2CO3(s) → (CH3CO2)2K(aq) + CO2(g) + H2O(l)
D2HCl (aq) + K2CO3(s) → 2KCl (aq) + CO2(g) + H2O(l)
Mark scheme
11May / June 2023 · Paper 12 · Q37Show mark scheme →
Abutan-1-ol and methanoic acid
Bethanol and propanoic acid
Cpropan-1-ol and ethanoic acid
Dpropan-1-ol and methanoic acid
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12Oct / Nov 2022 · Paper 11 · Q27Show mark scheme →
Afunctional group –CO2H; moles of fatty acid 1
Bfunctional group –CO2H; moles of fatty acid 2
Cfunctional group –CH2OH; moles of fatty acid 1
Dfunctional group –CH2OH; moles of fatty acid 2
Mark scheme
13Oct / Nov 2022 · Paper 12 · Q38Also set in Oct / Nov 2022 Paper 11, Oct / Nov 2019 Paper 11Show mark scheme →
A2C2H5COOH + Ca2CO3 → 2C2H5COOCa + CO2 + H2O
B2C2H5COOH + CaCO3 → (C2H5COO)2Ca + CO2 + H2O
C2C3H7COOH + Ca2CO3 → 2C3H7COOCa + CO2 + H2O
D2C3H7COOH + CaCO3 → (C3H7COO)2Ca + CO2 + H2O
Mark scheme
14May / June 2022 · Paper 11 · Q37Show mark scheme →
AAll carboxylic acids include the group: [structure: C with double bond O and O-H]
BEthanoic acid reacts with both copper(II) oxide and copper.
CMethanoic acid, formed by bacterial oxidation, is present in vinegar.
DPropanoic acid decolourises acidified potassium manganate(VII).
Mark scheme
15Oct / Nov 2021 · Paper 11 · Q39Show mark scheme →
ACH3CH2OH
BCH3CH2CH2CH2COOH
CCH3COOCH2CH2CH2CH2CH3
DCH3CH2CH2CH2CH2OH
Mark scheme
16May / June 2021 · Paper 11 · Q38Show mark scheme →
Aethanoic acid and ethanol
Bethanol and propanoic acid
Cpropanoic acid and propanol
Dpropanol and ethanoic acid
Mark scheme
17Oct / Nov 2020 · Paper 11 · Q38Show mark scheme →
Apropyl ethanoate
Bethyl propanoate
Cpropyl ethanoate
Dethyl propanoate
Mark scheme
18Oct / Nov 2020 · Paper 12 · Q37Show mark scheme →
Aethanoic acid
Bethene
Cpropanoic acid
Dpropene
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19Oct / Nov 2020 · Paper 12 · Q38Show mark scheme →
Anumber of moles of water: 1; structure of the ester: CH3CH2C(=O)OCH2CH3
Bnumber of moles of water: 1; structure of the ester: CH3C(=O)OCH2CH3
Cnumber of moles of water: 2; structure of the ester: CH3CH2C(=O)OCH2CH3
Dnumber of moles of water: 2; structure of the ester: CH3C(=O)OCH2CH3
Mark scheme
20May / June 2020 · Paper 11 · Q37Show mark scheme →
AC-C(OH)-C
BC=C
CC(=O)OH
DC(=O)O-C
Mark scheme
21Oct / Nov 2019 · Paper 12 · Q40Show mark scheme →
ACH3CH2CH2COOCH3
BCH3CH2CH2CH2CH2OH
CCH3CH2CH2CH2COOH
DCH3CHCHCH2CH3
Mark scheme
22Oct / Nov 2018 · Paper 12 · Q38Also set in Oct / Nov 2018 Paper 11Show mark scheme →
Acarbon atoms: fewer, hydrogen atoms: fewer, oxygen atoms: fewer
Bcarbon atoms: fewer, hydrogen atoms: same, oxygen atoms: fewer
Ccarbon atoms: same, hydrogen atoms: fewer, oxygen atoms: fewer
Dcarbon atoms: same, hydrogen atoms: same, oxygen atoms: same
Mark scheme
23May / June 2018 · Paper 11 · Q38Show mark scheme →
ACH3—CH2—C(=O)—O—CH2—CH2—CH2—CH3
BCH3—CH2—CH2—C(=O)—O—CH2—CH2—CH3
CCH3—CH2—CH2—C(=O)—O—CH2—CH2—CH2—CH3
DCH3—CH2—C(=O)—O—CH2—CH2—CH3
Mark scheme
24May / June 2018 · Paper 12 · Q38Show mark scheme →
ACH3CH2OH
BCH3CH(OH)CH3
CHOCH2CH2OH
DHOCH2CH2CH2CH2OH
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25May / June 2018 · Paper 12 · Q39Also set in May / June 2018 Paper 11Show mark scheme →
Aethanoic acid
Bethanol
Cethyl ethanoate
Dethyl methanoate
Mark scheme
26Oct / Nov 2017 · Paper 12 · Q36Show mark scheme →
AC4H12O2
BC4H10O2
CC4H8O2
DC4H6O2
Mark scheme
27Oct / Nov 2017 · Paper 12 · Q38Show mark scheme →
ACH3OH and CH3COOH
BCH3OH and C2H5COOH
CC2H5OH and CH3COOH
DC2H5OH and C2H5COOH
Mark scheme
28Oct / Nov 2017 · Paper 12 · Q39Also set in Oct / Nov 2017 Paper 11Show mark scheme →
ACH3COOCH2CH3 (ethyl ethanoate)
BHCOOCH3 (methyl methanoate)
CHCOOH (methanoic acid)
DCH3COOCH2CH2CH3 (propyl ethanoate)
Mark scheme
29May / June 2017 · Paper 11 · Q34Show mark scheme →
Amethyl propanoate; CH3CH2CO2CH3
Bmethyl propanoate; HCO2CH2CH2CH3
Cpropyl methanoate; CH3CH2CO2CH3
Dpropyl methanoate; HCO2CH2CH2CH3
Mark scheme
30May / June 2017 · Paper 11 · Q39Show mark scheme →
AH-C(H)(H)-C(H)(H)-C(=O)-O-C(H)(H)-H
BH-C(H)(H)-C(=O)-O-C(H)(H)-C(H)(H)-H
CH-C(=O)-O-C(H)(H)-C(H)(H)-C(H)(H)-H
DH-O-C(=O)-C(H)(H)-C(H)(H)-C(H)(H)-H
Mark scheme
31May / June 2017 · Paper 12 · Q35Show mark scheme →
Acombustion
Bcondensation
Coxidation
Dpolymerisation
Mark scheme
32May / June 2017 · Paper 12 · Q37Show mark scheme →
Aethanol to ethanoic acid
Bethanol to ethyl ethanoate
Cethene to ethane
Dethene to ethanol
Mark scheme
33Oct / Nov 2016 · Paper 12 · Q36Also set in Oct / Nov 2016 Paper 11Show mark scheme →
A1
B2
C3
D4
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34May / June 2016 · Paper 11 · Q36Show mark scheme →
AIt has the formula C5H10O2.
BIt has the formula C5H12O3.
CIt is formed by an addition reaction.
DIt is propyl ethanoate.
Mark scheme
35May / June 2016 · Paper 11 · Q39Show mark scheme →
AEthanoic acid can be made by the catalysed addition of steam to ethene.
BPropanoic acid can react with ethanoic acid to produce an ester.
CSolutions of 1.0 mol / dm3 ethanoic acid and 1.0 mol / dm3 hydrochloric acid will react with magnesium at equal rates.
DThe formula of ethanoic acid is CH3CO2H.
Mark scheme
36May / June 2016 · Paper 12 · Q36Show mark scheme →
Aoxidised, CH3COOH
Boxidised, CH3CH2COOH
Creduced, CH3COOH
Dreduced, CH3CH2COOH
Mark scheme