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 You already know why
phenols are more acidic than alcohols