(Thio)Carboxylic Acid Salts
(Thio)Carboxylic Acid Salts
Carboxylic acid salts or carboxylate salts are organic compounds that have a -C(=O)O- anionic group in them. Carboxylate salts have the general formula M(RCOO)n, where M is a metal or a cation like ammonium. The negative charge delocalizes between the oxygen atoms. Carboxylic acid salts are extensively used in the preparation of buffer solutions. They also find utility as flavor enhancers and preservatives. Sodium salts of benzoic acid and formic acid are frequently used in organic synthesis as nucleophilic agents. Pyrolysis of calcium salts is a route to the preparation of ketones. The ammonium salt of carboxylic acid is used in the preparation of carboxamides. Industrially, sodium or potassium salts of long chain fatty acids are used in the manufacture of the anionic surfactant soap.
