Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Containing one carboxyl group: In chemistry, "monocarboxylic" describes an organic acid or compound that possesses exactly one carboxyl functional group (-COOH) in its molecular structure.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • Acetic acid is a common monocarboxylic acid. (Acetic acid is a simple organic acid with one carboxyl group.)
  • The fatty acid was identified as a monocarboxylic compound. (The analysis showed the fatty acid molecule contained a single carboxyl group.)

Advanced Usage

• Scientific Nomenclature: The term is primarily used in systematic chemical naming to specify the number of carboxyl groups, distinguishing compounds from dicarboxylic or polycarboxylic acids.
  • The synthesis focused on creating a novel monocarboxylic derivative.

Variants and Related Words

• Carboxylic (adj): Pertaining to or containing the carboxyl group.
  • Carboxylic acids are an important class of organic compounds.
• Monocarboxylate (n): A salt or ester derived from a monocarboxylic acid.
  • The sodium monocarboxylate was used in the reaction.

Synonyms

• Monobasic (adj): In the context of acids, having one replaceable hydrogen atom; often used interchangeably for simple carboxylic acids, though "monobasic" has a broader application in acid-base chemistry.

Related Phrases / Compound Terms

• Monocarboxylic acid (n): The most common usage, referring specifically to an organic acid with one -COOH group.
  • Formic acid is the simplest monocarboxylic acid.

Adjective

1. containing one carboxyl group