Carboxylic Acids

Structure

Common Name

IUPAC name

Acetic acid
anion: Acetate

Ethanoic acid
anion: Ethanoate

Benzoic acid
anion: Benzoate

Benzene carboxylic acid
anion: Benzene carboxylate

Butyric acid
anion: Butyrate

Butanoic acid
anion: Butanoate

All organic acids have the carboxylic acid group.  Acid names end in the -ic suffix.  Common names are often used.  IUPAC names include the appropriate prefix based for the number of carbon atoms (e.g., a 2-carbon acid begins with Ethan which is the alkane part of the molecule), followed by the -oic suffix (for organic acid).  To name the anion of the acid, drop the -ic suffix (but do not drop the "o") and add the -ate suffix.  For example, acetic acid becomes the acetate ion, and ethanoic acid becomes the ethanoate ion.