TOJC -- PAge 73 K

casmiedm@PLU.edu
Sun, 15 Sep 1996 22:25:47 -0800 (PST)

Jolene,
I think I may be able to answer your question about the example of
formic acid on page 73. Formic acid is part of the family of carboxylic
acids. The general formula of a carboxylic acid is the following:
H
O
O=C
R

The R in the formula consist of any organic group. As long the compound of
formic acid contains the carbon double bonded to an oxygen (carbonyl group) and single bonded to a the hydroxyl group, it
is considered to be a carboxylic acid. The hydrogen exists in this case
in the place of R in the same way that "R may also be H"(p.71) for the
molecule aldehyde. I hope this clears up some confusion.
Dan Casmier
casmiedm@plu.edu