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Multiple Choice
Which functional group is formed when an alcohol reacts with a carboxylic acid under acidic conditions?
A
Aldehyde
B
Ester
C
Amide
D
Ether
Verified step by step guidance
1
Begin by understanding the reaction between an alcohol and a carboxylic acid under acidic conditions. This is known as esterification.
In esterification, the hydroxyl group (-OH) from the carboxylic acid and the hydrogen atom from the alcohol's hydroxyl group combine to form water (H₂O).
The remaining oxygen atom from the alcohol forms a bond with the carbonyl carbon of the carboxylic acid, creating an ester linkage.
The general reaction can be represented as:
Thus, the functional group formed is an ester, characterized by the linkage .