Perfluorinated carboxylic acids are corrosive liquids or solids. The acids are completely ionized in water. The acids are of commercial significance because of their unusual acid strength, chemical stability, high surface activity, and salt solubility characteristics. The higher members of the series have the property of decreasing the surface tension of aqueous solutions well below the point possible with any type of hydrocarbon surfactant. There are five methods for the preparation of long‐chain perfluorinated carboxylic acids and derivatives: electrochemical fluorination, direct fluorination, telomerization of tetrafluoroethylene, oligomerization of hexafluoropropylene oxide, and photooxidation of tetrafluoroethylene and hexafluoropropylene. In general, the reactions of the perfluoroacids are similar to those of the hydrocarbon acids, although in some cases the electronegativity of the perfluoroalkyl groups make formation of certain derivatives easier or harder. A general summary of formation and properties of the derivatives of perfluorinated acids is discussed. Data on the fluorinated dicarboxylic acids and their derivatives are also summarized.