[itunu]

I have a pretty stupid question regarding the structure of carboxylic acid.
Why is written COOH rather than OCOH ??  The double bond is between the O and C. 
COOH implies there are two O joined together but this isn't the case.

[itunu]

btw I have read the rules and I have searched for the answer to no avail.  I then asked people with chemistry degrees and was told "It's just a chemistry notation thing." and "it's a habit" but that still leaves me confused.

[Arkcon]

Conceptually, I like your notation better, and I may start using it.  However, it could add to confusion when drawing -COOH as part of another molecule.  Then you're implying the molecule binds to the O and not the C.  Still, just a convention, really.

[itunu]

Thank you Arkcon, I'm glad it wasn't a stupid question after all !

[Corribus]

I have a pretty stupid question regarding the structure of carboxylic acid.
Why is written COOH rather than OCOH ??  The double bond is between the O and C. 
COOH implies there are two O joined together but this isn't the case.

Just as easily, R-OCOH could be taken to imply R-O-C-OH, equally wrong. Using this kind of notation, either way could imply an incorrect structure. A better way would be C(=O)OH, but this is cumbersome. COOH or CO₂H has been used long enough that people understand what it means most of the time. Carboxylic acids are more common than peroxides, so it's usually not a problem, and there is usually context as well to help out.

[Babcock_Hall]

One problem I have seen when abbreviating a carboxylate group as R-CO₂^- is that when students wish to show carbon dioxide as a product, they write it as CO₂^-, which is obviously wrong.