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Which carboxylic acids are solids at room temperature?
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carboxylic acid
Alcohols may be oxidized to give aldehydes, ketones, and carboxylic acids. The oxidation of organic compounds generally increases the number of bonds from carbon to oxygen, and it may decrease the number of bonds to hydrogen.
Carboxylic acids with higher molecular weights are typically solids at room temperature. While lower-molecular-weight carboxylic acids (such as those with 3 to 10 carbons) are generally liquids, the physical state changes as the chain length increases.12
Examples of carboxylic acids that are solids at room temperature include:
- Benzoic acid: The simplest aromatic carboxylic acid, which exists as a solid with a melting point of 122 °C (252 °F).13
- Higher saturated fatty acids: These include acids with 12 to 18 carbon atoms, such as lauric acid, myristic acid, palmitic acid, and stearic acid.14
- Very long-chain acids: Even-numbered saturated fatty acids higher than C18, which are often found in waxes, such as cerotic acid (C26).4
Additionally, virtually all salts of carboxylic acids are solids at room temperature, as is characteristic of ionic compounds.1