PREPWISER.
Practise online

Carboxylic Acids & Their Derivatives formula sheet

Every formula in the Carboxylic Acids & Their Derivatives chapter for JEE Main, with one line on when it applies. Topic 1 is open to everyone; sign in free to read all 12 and download the PDF.

Sign in to read all 12Download PDF

Read the first part free. Sign in free with Google to read the rest and download the PDF: 2 A4 pages.2 A4 pages, ready to print.

How we count: 7× asked means 7 past JEE Main questions in the PrepWiser bank needed that formula, and "last" is the latest year one appeared. ★ marks formulas asked 8 or more times.

Structure, properties and preparation

Series and boiling point
3× asked, last 2024
CnH2n+1COOH (n≥0)b.p.: RCOOH>ROH>RCHO, RCORX′\begin{aligned}&\mathrm{C}_n\mathrm{H}_{2n+1}\mathrm{COOH}\ (n\ge0)\\&\text{b.p.: }\ce{RCOOH}>\ce{ROH}>\ce{RCHO},\ \ce{RCOR^{\prime}}\end{aligned}
Similar mass; H-bonded dimers even in vapour. Series starts at HCOOH. Picric acid has no COOH.
Preparation
2× asked, last 2025
RCHX2OH→KMnOX4,  HX+RCOOHCX6HX5CHX2R→(ii) HX3OX+(i) KMnOX4/KOHCX6HX5COOHRCN→HX3OX+,  ΔRCOOH,RMgX→(ii) HX3OX+(i) COX2RCOOHRCOORX′→HX3OX+RCOOH\begin{aligned}&\ce{RCH2OH ->[\ce{KMnO4},\ \ce{H+}] RCOOH}\\&\ce{C6H5CH2R ->[(i)\ \ce{KMnO4}/\ce{KOH}][(ii)\ \ce{H3O+}] C6H5COOH}\\&\ce{RCN ->[\ce{H3O+},\ \Delta] RCOOH},\qquad \ce{RMgX ->[(i)\ \ce{CO2}][(ii)\ \ce{H3O+}] RCOOH}\\&\ce{RCOOR^{\prime} ->[\ce{H3O+}] RCOOH}\end{aligned}
Grignard + COX2\ce{CO2} adds one C; haloform removes one. Benzylic H needed. PCC and Stephen stop at the aldehyde.

Practise Carboxylic Acids & Their Derivatives questions as you read. Free, and you can start without signing up.

Practise Carboxylic Acids & Their Derivatives

10 more formulas in 2 topics

Acidity and Reactions of acids and their derivatives. Read the first part free. Sign in free with Google to read the rest and download the PDF.

Sign in to read the restYou come straight back to this spot.Download the PDF

Acidity

  • Acidity and NaHCO₃2×
  • Aliphatic acids
  • Benzoic acids1×
  • Ring substitution

Reactions of acids and their derivatives

  • Fischer esterification2×
  • Acid chlorides, anhydrides, amides1×
  • Reduction1×
  • Decarboxylation, Kolbe, HVZ
  • Acyl substitution reactivity1×
  • Esters with Grignard1×

Practise Carboxylic Acids & Their Derivatives next

About 15 past JEE Main questions from this chapter, with instant answer checking and step-by-step solutions where available. Free, and you can start without signing up.

Practise Carboxylic Acids & Their Derivatives

Also free on PrepWiser

Spotted a mistake? Write to support@prepwiser.in and we will fix it in the next version.

Version 1, October 2026. Free to share for study, as it is. Please don't sell it or remove the PrepWiser name.

PractiseSign in to read all 12Download PDF
Free with Google, takes a few seconds2 pages, free