Question

What is formed when carboxylic acids react with metals and metal carbonates?

Answer 1

Carboxylic acids react with active metals to form hydrogen and metal carboxylates, and they react with metal carbonates to give metal carboxylates, carbon dioxide, and water.

Explanation:

With active metals

An active metal reacts with an acid to produce a salt and hydrogen.

For example, acetic acid reacts with magnesium according to the equation

`2underbrace("CH"_3"COOH")_color(red)("carboxylic acid") + underbrace("Mg")_color(red)("metal") → underbrace(("CH"_3"COO")_2"Mg")_color(red)("metal carboxylate") + underbrace("H"_2)_color(red)("hydrogen")`

Carboxylic acids are weak acids, so the reaction may be slow, but it will occur.

With metal carbonates

A metal carbonate reacts with an acid to produce a salt, carbon dioxide, and water.

For example, acetic acid reacts with sodium carbonate according to the equation

`2underbrace("CH"_3"COOH")_color(red)("carboxylic acid") + underbrace("Na"_2"CO"_3)_color(red)("metal carbonate") → 2underbrace("CH"_3"COONa")_color(red)("metal carboxylate") + underbrace("CO"_2)_color(red)("carbon dioxide") + underbrace("H"_2"O")_color(red)("water")`