carboxylic acid - carboxylic acids are a family of compounds containing carbon (C), oxygen (O), and hydrogen (H) atoms arranged in the manner you see below.

a carboxylic acid
a carboxylic acid

These compounds are acids, so the hydrogen atom can easily separate and join a nearby water molecule, like you see below.

a carboxylic acid reacting with water
a carboxylic acid reacting with water

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