The presence of -COOH shows that the compound is an organic acid. Butanoic acid can also be written as CH 3 CH 2 CH 2 COOH, as this molecular formula clearly indicates its structure. Preparation of organic acids Organic acids are prepared by oxidation of alcohols. These reactions we have seen in the earlier sections. Incomplete oxidation of alcohols leads to organic acids.
Incomplete oxidation is achieved by providing nascent oxygen for the reaction.
When air is made to pass over heated copper, oxygen from air can break into atomic or nascent oxygen. This is made to react with an alcohol to give organic acid and water. Copper is a catalyst. When methanol is used as a starting material, methanoic acid is formed. If ethanol is used as a starting material, ethanoic acid is formed.