Question

Formic acid is:
A. mono carboxylic acid
B. dicarboxylic acid
C. tricarboxylic acid
D. none

Answer 1

Hint: Carboxylic acid is an organic compound made up of hydrocarbons (compounds of carbon, and hydrogen). It has a functional group called the carboxyl group $\left(-\text{COOH}\right)$ attached to any alkyl or aryl group $\left(-\text{R}\right)$. Its general formula is $\text{R - COOH}$.

Complete step by step answer:
-Formic acid in IUPAC nomenclature is known as Methanoic acid. It has a molecular formula $\text{H - COOH}$. It is prepared from reacting Carbon monoxide with sodium hydroxide, and water. This gives the product Sodium formate which is then treated with the Sulphuric acid to form formic acid. The reaction is as followed: $\text{CO + NaOH}\stackrel{H_{2}O}{\to }\text{HCOONa}\stackrel{H_{2}S{O}_4}{\to }\text{HCOOH}$
-Monocarboxylic acid – Mono means one, so, monocarboxylic acid contains one $\left(-\text{COOH}\right)$ group. Due to its tendency of losing a proton and forming a carboxylate ion, it is weak in nature. Formic acids also contain only one $\left(-\text{COOH}\right)$ group, so it is a mono carboxylic acid. Hence, this is a correct option.
- Dicarboxylic acid – ‘Di’ means two, so, dicarboxylic acid contains two units of the functional group $\left(-\text{COOH}\right)$. Thus, it is not similar to Formic acid which has only one $\left(-\text{COOH}\right)$ group. Hence, this option is incorrect.
-Tricarboxylic acid – ‘Tri’ means three, so, tricarboxylic acid contains three units of functional group $\left(-\text{COOH}\right)$ unlike Formic acid which has only one unit of $\left(-\text{COOH}\right)$ group. Hence this is also an incorrect option.
Hence, option (a) mono carboxylic acid is the only correct answer.

Note: Formic acid was originally or we can say naturally obtained from ants, and was given a Latin name called Formica (ant). Formic acid has important uses in processing leather, and textiles.