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Explain why the carbonyl oxygen atom of a carboxylic acid is more basic than hydroxyl oxygen. |
Answer» Solution :Protonation at the hydroxyl OXYGEN of a carboxylic acid GIVES structure (I) but protonation at the carbonyl oxygen gives structure (II) which can be regarded as a resonance HYBRID of two structure (II and III). Thus, structure (II) is more stable than structure (I) and HENCE carbonyl oxygen atom of a carboxylic acid is more basic than hydroxyl oxygen. 
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