The most common carboxylic acid derivatives are represented below. By comparison we can see how the carboxylic acid derivatives are similar ...
The most common carboxylic acid derivatives are represented below.
By comparison we can see how the carboxylic acid derivatives are similar to the carboxylic acids, except for nitriles that do not have a carbonyl group.
So, why nitriles are derivatives of carboxylic acids?
In reality, carboxylic acids derivatives are compounds with functional groups that can be transformed to carboxylic acids by acidic or basic hydrolysis. The nitrile group satisfies this definition.
In addition, another thing they have in common is the oxidation state of the carbon atom. The oxidation state is +3 for all of them. Also, they have many similarities in reactivity.
