A type of organic compound with the general formula RCOOH. Many carboxylic acids occur naturally in plants and (in the form of esters) in fats and oils, hence the alternative name fatty acids. Carboxylic acids with one COOH group are called monobasic, those with two, dibasic, and those with three, tribasic. The methods of preparation are:
1. Oxidation of a primary alcohol or an aldehyde:
RCH₂OH + 2[O] → RCOOH + H₂O
RCN + HCl + 2H₂O → RCOOH + NH₄Cl