How Do You Spell CARBOXYLATE?

Pronunciation: [kˈɑːbəksˌɪle͡ɪt] (IPA)

The word "carboxylate" is spelled kɑː(r)bɒkˈsɪlət. It is a chemical term used to describe the conjugate base of a carboxylic acid. The first part of the word, "carboxy," relates to the carboxyl group, which contains both a carbonyl and hydroxyl functional group. The "-ate" suffix indicates the presence of the conjugate base, resulting from the deprotonation of the carboxyl group. Despite its complex spelling, the word is commonly used in the fields of chemistry and biochemistry to describe various chemical reactions and structures.

CARBOXYLATE Meaning and Definition

  1. Carboxylate is a noun that refers to the anionic form of a carboxylic acid when it loses a hydrogen ion (H+), resulting in a negatively charged group consisting of a carbon atom bonded to an oxygen atom and an additional oxygen atom with a negative charge. This negative charge is balanced by a cation or a metal ion, forming a salt known as a carboxylate salt.

    Carboxylates are commonly found in organic chemistry as they are the result of carboxylic acids, which are widely distributed in nature and are important components in many biological processes. Carboxylate groups also play a crucial role in the structure and function of various biomolecules, including fatty acids, amino acids, and nucleic acids.

    The carboxylate functional group exhibits distinct chemical properties due to its negatively charged state. It is capable of participating in various chemical reactions, such as nucleophilic substitution, esterification, and trans-esterification, making it a versatile functional group in organic synthesis. Additionally, carboxylates can form coordination complexes with transition metals, leading to the formation of metal carboxylates, which have applications in catalysis and coordination chemistry.

    In summary, a carboxylate is the anionic form of a carboxylic acid, characterized by a negatively charged carbon-oxygen double-bonded to an oxygen atom. It plays a vital role in organic chemistry and various biological processes, making it an important and widely studied chemical group.

Common Misspellings for CARBOXYLATE

Etymology of CARBOXYLATE

The word "carboxylate" is derived from the combination of two terms: "carboxyl" and the suffix "-ate".

The term "carboxyl" comes from the contraction of the words "carbonyl" and "hydroxyl", which are the functional groups present in a carboxylic acid molecule. "Carbonyl" refers to a carbon atom double-bonded to an oxygen atom, while "hydroxyl" refers to an oxygen atom bonded to a hydrogen atom.

The suffix "-ate" is a common suffix used in chemistry to denote an anion (negatively charged ion) formed from an acid or an acidic group. It is often used to indicate the removal of a hydrogen ion (H+) from an acid compound, resulting in a negatively charged ion, such as the carboxylate ion.

Similar spelling words for CARBOXYLATE

Plural form of CARBOXYLATE is CARBOXYLATES

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