COOH is a chemical symbol that represents a carboxyl group, which is a functional group found in organic molecules. The spelling of COOH is based on the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) phonetic transcription. The letters "C" and "O" represent the carbon and oxygen atoms, respectively. The two letters "O" are pronounced with a long "o" sound (/oʊ/) and the letter "H" is silent. Thus, the correct pronunciation of COOH is "koh-oh." The carboxyl group is important in many biochemical processes, including cellular respiration and protein synthesis.
COOH is an abbreviation commonly associated with the carboxyl group, which is a functional group in organic chemistry. The carboxyl group, represented by -COOH, consists of a carbonyl group (C=O) and a hydroxyl group (-OH) attached to the same carbon atom.
In more specific terms, the "C" represents carbon, "O" symbolizes oxygen, and "H" denotes hydrogen. The arrangement is such that the carbon atom forms a double bond with one of the oxygen atoms from the carbonyl group while the other oxygen atom binds to the carbon atom via a single bond, simultaneously sharing the carbon with a hydrogen atom. The carbon-oxygen double bond imparts a partial positive charge to the carbon, making it susceptible to nucleophilic attack.
The carboxyl group plays a crucial role in various biological and chemical processes. It is found in carboxylic acids, which are organic compounds that contain one or more COOH groups and are widely present in nature. Carboxylic acids are involved in metabolic reactions, acting as key intermediates in the synthesis of lipids, amino acids, and other important biomolecules. They also participate in acid-base reactions, as the COOH group is ionizable, meaning it can donate a proton (H+) to become a negatively charged COO- when dissolved in water.
In summary, the term COOH generally refers to the carboxyl group, a functional group consisting of a carbonyl group (-C=O) and a hydroxyl group (-OH) attached to the same carbon atom.
Formula for carboxyl, a radical characteristic of organic oxyacids.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.