What is the general formula for a carboxylic acid?

The general formula for a carboxylic acid is R-COOH.

Carboxylic acids are a class of organic compounds that contain a carboxyl functional group (-COOH). The 'R' in the general formula represents the rest of the molecule, which can be a variety of different structures, such as a simple hydrogen atom (making the compound formic acid), a methyl group (making the compound acetic acid), or more complex organic groups.

The carboxyl group itself is made up of a carbon atom double-bonded to an oxygen atom and also single-bonded to a hydroxyl group (-OH). This structure is what gives carboxylic acids their acidic properties. When in solution, the hydroxyl hydrogen can dissociate, leaving a negatively charged carboxylate ion and a positively charged hydrogen ion (a proton). This is the process that defines acids in the Brønsted-Lowry theory of acids and bases.

Carboxylic acids are widely found in nature and are important in many biological processes. For example, the amino acids that make up proteins all contain a carboxylic acid group. They are also used in the manufacture of a wide range of products, from soaps and detergents to plastics and pharmaceuticals.

In terms of nomenclature, the IUPAC name for a carboxylic acid replaces the '-e' ending of the parent alkane with '-oic acid'. For example, the IUPAC name for CH3COOH is ethanoic acid. However, many carboxylic acids are more commonly known by their traditional names, such as acetic acid for CH3COOH.