What type of compound is sodium butanoate?

Sodium butanoate is categorized as a salt. It is the sodium salt of butanoic acid, which means it is formed through the neutralization reaction between butanoic acid (a fatty acid) and sodium hydroxide (a strong base). In this reaction, the acidic hydrogen of the carboxyl group in butanoic acid is replaced by a sodium ion, resulting in a compound that is ionic in nature.

Salts, including sodium butanoate, are typically formed from the reaction of an acid and a base. They dissociate into their respective ions in solution, which is characteristic of salts. In the case of sodium butanoate, it dissociates into sodium ions (Na⁺) and butanoate ions (C₄H₇O₂⁻) when dissolved in water. This ionic character and dissociation in aqueous solutions are key traits of salts.

The other options—amino acid, alcohol, and aldehyde—refer to different classes of organic compounds. Amino acids contain both an amine and a carboxylic acid functional group but sodium butanoate lacks the amino group. Alcohols contain hydroxyl (-OH) groups, whereas sodium butanoate has a carbox