 Carboxylic acids usually exist as dimers in nonpolar media due to their tendency to "self-associate".Smaller carboxylic acids (1 to 5 carbons) are soluble in water, whereas higher carboxylic acids have limited solubility due to the increasing hydrophobic nature of the alkyl chain.These longer chain acids tend to be soluble in less-polar solvents such as ethers and alcohols.