How many carboxylic acids have the formula C4H8O2?

1 Answer
Ernest Z.
Oct 23, 2015

Two carboxylic acids have the formula #"C"_4"H"_8"O"_2#.

Explanation:

We can rewrite the formula as #"C"_3"H"_7"COOH"#.

#"C"_3"H"_7# is a propyl group.

We can put the #"COOH"# group on the end of the propyl chain to get #"CH"_3"CH"_2"CH"_2"COOH"#, butanoic acid.

Or we can put the #"COOH"# group in the middle of the propyl chain to get #("CH"_3)_2"CHCOOH"#, 2-methylpropanoic acid.

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