Читать книгу Biochemistry For Dummies - John Moore T., Richard Langley H., John T. Moore - Страница 51

Carboxylic acids, along with phosphoric acid, are the most important biological acids. Carboxylic acids react with bases such as the amines to produce salts. The salts contain an ammonium ion from the amine and a carboxylate ion from the acid.

Carboxylic acids combine with alcohols to form esters and can indirectly combine with amines to form amides. Hydrolysis of an ester or an amide breaks the bond and inserts water. An acid, base, or enzyme is needed to catalyze hydrolysis. Under acidic conditions, you can isolate the acid and either the alcohol or the ammonium ion from the amine. Under basic conditions, you can isolate the carboxylate ion and either the alcohol or the amine.