Smaller the pKa, the stronger the acid ( the better it is as a proton
donor) Strong acids have pKa values < 1, the acids with pKa values
between 1 and 5 are considered to be moderately strong acids, weak
acids have pKa values between 5 and 15, and extremely weak acids
have pKa values >15 Carboxylic acids are weaker than mineral acids, but they are stronger
acids than alcohols and many simple phenols (pKa is ~16 for ethanol
and 10 for phenol) In fact, carboxylic acids are amongst the most acidic
organic compounds you have studied so far