What is the functional group present in organic carboxylic acids?

💡 Solution & Explanation

Organic carboxylic acids are universally characterized by the presence of the carboxyl functional group denoted by the chemical formula COOH, where a carbonyl and a hydroxyl group interact on the same carbon atom. Other options denote different chemical classes entirely, such as hydroxyl groups found in alcohols or carbonyl groups characteristic of aldehydes and ketones. Acetic acid and formic acid serve as common examples of this organic acid family. Carboxylic acids generally exhibit acidic properties because they can release a proton from the hydroxyl group.