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Carboxyl Group




In Chemistry , a carboxyl group is a Functional Group consisting of a Carbon Atom double- Bonded to an Oxygen atom and single-bonded to a Hydroxyl (-OH) group, typically written as '''-COOH''':

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where R is a Hydrogen or an Organic Group .

Carboxyl groups are weakly Acid ic and are the characteristic constituents of Carboxylic Acid s. They are present in most Organic Acid s, this making them Biodegradable .

The addition of a carboxyl group to a compound is known as carboxylation; the removal of one is '''decarboxylation'''. Enzyme s that catalyze these reactions are known as Carboxylase s ( EC 6.4.1) and Decarboxylase s (EC 4.1.1).

The C=O stretch of carboxyl groups can be identified Spectroscopically by a sharp peak in the Infrared between Wavenumber 1700 and 2100 cm-1.