- What are the main uses of carboxylic acids?
- Food industry
- Pharmaceutical industry
- Other industries
- Properties of carboxylic acids
- Solubility
- Boiling point
- Melting point
- References
The uses of carboxylic acids are so extensive that they can be divided into several industries, such as pharmaceuticals (active for the manufacture of vitamin C-based drugs) or food (production of soft drinks, manufacture 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 referred to 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.
What are the main uses of carboxylic acids?
Carboxylic acids occur naturally in fats, acidic dairy products, and citrus fruits, and their most important uses include:
Food industry
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- Elaboration of cheese, sauerkraut, fermented cabbage and soft drinks (Lactic acid).
Pharmaceutical industry
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).
Other industries
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 paint solvents (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- Manufacture of paraffin candles (stearic acid).
In agriculture they are also 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 advances in 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).
Properties of carboxylic acids
Some properties of these chemicals are:
Solubility
The first four aliphatic monocarboxylic acids are liquid and soluble in water.
This property decreases if the number of carbon atoms increases, so that from dodecanoic acid, they begin to be insoluble in water.
Boiling point
The boiling point of these substances is high due to the presence of a double hydrogen bond between their components.
Melting point
This is a property that varies according to the amount of carbons since these affect the association between molecules.
From the 6 carbons, an irregular rise in the melting point begins.
References
- Abreu Payrol, Juan, & others (2001). Carboxylic acids from the fruit of Bromelia pinguin L. (mouse pineapple) by HPLC. Cuban Journal of Pharmacy, 35 (2), 122-125. Recovered from: scielo.sld.cu.
- Binod, Shrestha (2010). Uses of carboxylic acid. Recovered from: chem-guide.blogspot.com.
- Netto, Rita (2011). Organic acids present in everyday life. Recovered from: alimentacion.en Emphasis.com.
- Main carboxylic acids and their applications. Recovered from: quiminet.com.
- Rank, J. (s / f). Carboxylic Acids - Industrial Importance - Fatty, Esters, Organic, and Soluble. Recovered from: science.jrank.org.
- Requena, L. (2001). We are going to Study Organic Chemistry. Héctor A. García Educational Foundation. Recovered from: salonhogar.net.
- Román Moreno, Luís F. (1998). Evaluation of carboxylic acids and calcium nitrate to increase quality, quantity and shelf life in three types of melon in Terra Latinoamericana Journal 1998 16 (1). Recovered from: redalyc.org.