1 markVery Short AnswerSection A

Write the name and formula of the first member of the series of carbon compounds having functional group - C - OH.

Carbon and its Compounds

Functional Groups

Official Answer

The functional group represented as $-\text{C}(=\text{O})-\text{OH}$ (or simply $-\text{COOH}$ ) is the carboxylic acid group.

Name of the first member: Methanoic acid (commonly known as formic acid)
Chemical formula: $\text{HCOOH}$

Methanoic acidHCOOHCarboxylic acid

Marking Scheme

1Identification of the functional group as carboxylic acid and naming the first member as Methanoic acid (0.5 marks)
2Writing the correct chemical formula as $\text{HCOOH}$ (0.5 marks)

Hint

The functional group is carboxylic acid ( $-\text{COOH}$ ). The first member contains only one carbon atom.

Quick Oral Answer

The first member of the carboxylic acid series is methanoic acid, and its formula is $\text{HCOOH}$ .

Analysis & Explanation

According to Table 4.3 in the NCERT textbook, the functional group containing oxygen with the structure $-\text{C}(=\text{O})-\text{OH}$ is a carboxylic acid. The simplest carboxylic acid contains only one carbon atom. To satisfy the remaining valency of the carbon atom, a hydrogen atom is attached to it, giving the formula $\text{HCOOH}$ . Its IUPAC name is methanoic acid.

Common Mistakes

1Writing Ethanoic acid ( $\text{CH}_3\text{COOH}$ ) as the first member instead of Methanoic acid ( $\text{HCOOH}$ ).
2Confusing the carboxylic acid group ( $-\text{COOH}$ ) with the alcohol group ( $-\text{OH}$ ).

Interesting Facts

Methanoic acid is commonly known as formic acid, which is derived from the Latin word 'formica' meaning ant, as it was first isolated by the distillation of red ants. It is responsible for the burning sensation of an ant bite!

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Frequently Asked Questions

How many marks does this question carry in CBSE Class 10 Science 2012?

This question carries 1 mark in the CBSE Class 10 Science 2012 examination.

Which chapter does this question come from in Science?

This question is from the chapter "Carbon and its Compounds" in the CBSE Class 10 Science syllabus.

What topic does this question cover in Science?

This question covers the topic "Functional Groups" from CBSE Class 10 Science.

What type of question is this in the CBSE Class 10 Science 2012 paper?

This is a Very Short Answer question from Section A in the CBSE Class 10 Science 2012 paper.