Structure and Properties of Carboxylic Acids Carboxylic acids react with bases to give metal(M+) carboxylate salts,RCO2M NaOH H20 +H20 OH R O-Na+ A carboxylic acid A carboxylic acid salt (water-insoluble) (water-soluble) Carboxylic acids slightly ionize in water R一 +H30 OH [RCO2 ][H3O+] Ka and pKa =-log Ka [RCO2H]▪ Carboxylic acids react with bases to give metal (M+ ) carboxylate salts, RCO2 - M+ ▪ Carboxylic acids slightly ionize in water Structure and Properties of Carboxylic Acids