What is carboxylate ion?

A carboxylate ion is a negatively charged ion that is formed when a carboxylic acid loses a proton (H+) from its carboxyl group (-COOH). This results in the formation of a carboxylate group (-COO-), which is a resonance-stabilized anion.

Carboxylate ions are commonly found in organic chemistry and biochemistry, as carboxyl groups are present in many organic molecules, such as amino acids, fatty acids, and many other important biological molecules.

The carboxylate ion is a polar molecule, as it contains both a negative and a positive charge, and it is generally soluble in water due to its ability to form hydrogen bonds with water molecules.

Carboxylate ions play important roles in various chemical reactions, including the formation of esters, amides, and other derivatives of carboxylic acids. They also play crucial roles in biological processes, such as in enzyme catalysis and in the transport of molecules across cell membranes.

Overall, carboxylate ions are important chemical species with diverse roles in organic chemistry, biochemistry, and various other fields of science.