IGCSE Organic Chemistry Practice Test

Carboxylic acids react with carbonates as an acid–base reaction that releases a gas and forms a salt. The acid donates protons to the carbonate, converting the carbonate into carbon dioxide and water, while the carboxylate that remains pairs with the metal cation from the carbonate to give a salt of the carboxylate. A typical balanced form is 2 RCOOH + Na2CO3 → 2 RCOONa + CO2 + H2O. So the products are a carboxylate salt, carbon dioxide, and water. This differs from forming a ketone or an ester, and hydrogen gas isn’t produced in this reaction.