Question
What is the common name for the simplest carboxylic acid, HCOOH ?
MHT CET
Chemistry
Carboxylic Acid Derivatives
2026
MHT CET 2026 (16 April Shift 1)
MHT CET Chemistry Question (2026) — Solution
Options
- A. Acetic acid
- B. Formic acid
- C. Propanoic acid
- D. Butanoic acid
Answer
B. Formic acid
Step-by-step solution
The simplest carboxylic acid is HCOOH. Its IUPAC name is methanoic acid. Its common name is formic acid, derived from the Latin word 'formica' meaning ant, as it was first isolated from the destructive distillation of ants. Answer: Formic acid
Related: Chemistry — Carboxylic Acid Derivatives · All PYQ Banks