Question

Which of the following statement is FALSE?

A) Carboxylic acids are mildly acid (pKa’s ~ 5)
B) Carboxylic  acids are lower boiling points than alcohols of similar molecular          weights because they form hydrogen-bonded dimmers. 
C) Electron –donating groups decrease the acidity of carboxylic acids.
     D) Carboxyl salts are produced when carboxylic acids are treated with NaOH

Answer 1

Answer = `b`

Explanation:

Boiling points of carboxylic acids are generally higher than that of the corresponding alcohols. Let's see, boiling point of methanol, `338K`, ethanol, `352K`, propanol, `370K`; methanoic acid, `374K`, ethanoic acid, `391K`, propanoic acid, `414K`. So why are the boiling points of the acids higher? (I am doing this in Kelvin because I can't remember how to get the degree sign!).