CHEM 219 Module 4 Exam: Carboxylic Acids, Esters, Amines, and
Amides 2026/2027 UPDATE
1. What is the IUPAC name for the carboxylic acid with the formula
CH3CH2COOH?
A. Ethanoic acid
B. Propanoic acid
C. Butanoic acid
D. Methanoic acid
Answer: B
Rationale: Propanoic acid contains three carbon atoms, matching the formula
CH3CH2COOH.
2. Which of the following has the highest boiling point?
A. Propan-1-ol
B. Methyl acetate
C. Propanoic acid
D. Propane
Answer: C
Rationale: Carboxylic acids have higher boiling points than alcohols of similar mass due to
the formation of stable hydrogen-bonded dimers.
,3. Which reagent is commonly used to reduce a carboxylic acid directly to a
primary alcohol?
A. NaBH4
B. H2 / Pd
C. KMnO4
D. LiAlH4
Answer: D
Rationale: Lithium aluminum hydride (LiAlH4) is a strong reducing agent capable of
reducing carboxylic acids to primary alcohols; NaBH4 is generally too weak.
4. The common name for methanoic acid is:
A. Acetic acid
B. Formic acid
C. Butyric acid
D. Propionic acid
Answer: B
Rationale: Formic acid is the common name for the simplest carboxylic acid, methanoic
acid, found in ant stings.
5. What are the products of the reaction between ethanoic acid and sodium
hydroxide?
A. Sodium ethanoate and water
B. Sodium ethanoate and hydrogen gas
C. Sodium ethoxide and water
D. Ethyl sodium and water
Answer: A
Rationale: Carboxylic acids react with bases like NaOH to form a carboxylate salt (sodium
ethanoate) and water.
, 6. Which of the following organic compounds is a dicarboxylic acid?
A. Benzoic acid
B. Oxalic acid
C. Valeric acid
D. Caproic acid
Answer: B
Rationale: Oxalic acid (ethanedioic acid) consists of two carboxyl groups linked together.
7. In a Fischer esterification, a carboxylic acid reacts with what to form an ester?
A. An aldehyde
B. An alkyl halide
C. A ketone
D. An alcohol
Answer: D
Rationale: Fischer esterification involves the acid-catalyzed reaction between a carboxylic
acid and an alcohol.
8. What is the correct IUPAC name for CH3COOCH2CH3?
A. Methyl propanoate
B. Ethyl methanoate
C. Propyl methanoate
D. Ethyl ethanoate
Answer: D
Rationale: The ester has an ethyl group attached to the oxygen and a two-carbon
(ethanoate) acid chain.
Amides 2026/2027 UPDATE
1. What is the IUPAC name for the carboxylic acid with the formula
CH3CH2COOH?
A. Ethanoic acid
B. Propanoic acid
C. Butanoic acid
D. Methanoic acid
Answer: B
Rationale: Propanoic acid contains three carbon atoms, matching the formula
CH3CH2COOH.
2. Which of the following has the highest boiling point?
A. Propan-1-ol
B. Methyl acetate
C. Propanoic acid
D. Propane
Answer: C
Rationale: Carboxylic acids have higher boiling points than alcohols of similar mass due to
the formation of stable hydrogen-bonded dimers.
,3. Which reagent is commonly used to reduce a carboxylic acid directly to a
primary alcohol?
A. NaBH4
B. H2 / Pd
C. KMnO4
D. LiAlH4
Answer: D
Rationale: Lithium aluminum hydride (LiAlH4) is a strong reducing agent capable of
reducing carboxylic acids to primary alcohols; NaBH4 is generally too weak.
4. The common name for methanoic acid is:
A. Acetic acid
B. Formic acid
C. Butyric acid
D. Propionic acid
Answer: B
Rationale: Formic acid is the common name for the simplest carboxylic acid, methanoic
acid, found in ant stings.
5. What are the products of the reaction between ethanoic acid and sodium
hydroxide?
A. Sodium ethanoate and water
B. Sodium ethanoate and hydrogen gas
C. Sodium ethoxide and water
D. Ethyl sodium and water
Answer: A
Rationale: Carboxylic acids react with bases like NaOH to form a carboxylate salt (sodium
ethanoate) and water.
, 6. Which of the following organic compounds is a dicarboxylic acid?
A. Benzoic acid
B. Oxalic acid
C. Valeric acid
D. Caproic acid
Answer: B
Rationale: Oxalic acid (ethanedioic acid) consists of two carboxyl groups linked together.
7. In a Fischer esterification, a carboxylic acid reacts with what to form an ester?
A. An aldehyde
B. An alkyl halide
C. A ketone
D. An alcohol
Answer: D
Rationale: Fischer esterification involves the acid-catalyzed reaction between a carboxylic
acid and an alcohol.
8. What is the correct IUPAC name for CH3COOCH2CH3?
A. Methyl propanoate
B. Ethyl methanoate
C. Propyl methanoate
D. Ethyl ethanoate
Answer: D
Rationale: The ester has an ethyl group attached to the oxygen and a two-carbon
(ethanoate) acid chain.
