Higher
carboxylic acids are practically insoluble in water due to
the increased hydrophobic interaction of hydrocarbon
part Benzoic acid, the simplest aromatic carboxylic acid
is nearly insoluble in cold water Carboxylic acids are
also soluble in less polar organic solvents like benzene,
ether, alcohol, chloroform, etc The reaction of carboxylic acids are classified as follows:
Acidity
Reactions with metals and alkalies
The carboxylic acids like alcohols evolve hydrogen with electropositive
metals and form salts with alkalies similar to phenols