Which of the following statements about carboxylic acids is/are correct?
- 1. Simple aliphatic carboxylic acids are soluble in water.
- 2. Higher carboxylic acids are practically insoluble in water.
- 3. The acidity of a carboxylic acid depends on the number of carbon atoms present in the hydrocarbon chain.
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
1 and 2 only
2 and 3 only
1 only
1, 2 and 3
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This question was previously asked in
UPSC CAPF – 2018
2. As the hydrocarbon chain length increases in higher carboxylic acids, the nonpolar hydrophobic part dominates, making them practically insoluble in water.
3. The acidity of a carboxylic acid is related to the stability of its conjugate base (carboxylate ion). Alkyl groups are electron-donating, which destabilizes the negative charge on the carboxylate ion. Therefore, increasing the number of carbon atoms (length of the alkyl chain) generally decreases the acidity of aliphatic carboxylic acids. The hydrocarbon chain’s size *does* influence acidity.