Introduction:
Carboxylic acids and mineral acids are both types of acids, but they differ in their strength. Carboxylic acids are generally weaker than mineral acids. This is due to several factors, including the nature of their chemical structure and the presence of different functional groups.

1. Definition and Structure:
- Carboxylic acids are organic compounds that contain a carboxyl group (-COOH) attached to a carbon atom.
- Mineral acids, on the other hand, are inorganic acids that are derived from minerals and often contain hydrogen and a nonmetallic element.

2. Ionization and Dissociation:
- Carboxylic acids ionize or dissociate in water to a lesser extent compared to mineral acids.
- Carboxylic acids form carboxylate ions (-COO-) and release H+ ions, while mineral acids release H+ ions directly.

3. Stability of Carboxylate Ions:
- Carboxylate ions are more stable than H+ ions due to resonance stabilization.
- The negative charge on the carboxylate ion is delocalized over both oxygen atoms, reducing the overall energy of the system.
- This stability hinders the release of H+ ions, making carboxylic acids weaker acids.

4. Inductive Effect:
- The presence of electronegative atoms or groups near the carboxyl group can decrease the acidity of carboxylic acids.
- These electronegative groups withdraw electron density from the carboxyl group through the inductive effect, making it less acidic.

5. Size of the Acidic Hydrogen Atom:
- The size of the hydrogen atom attached to the carboxyl group affects the acidity of carboxylic acids.
- Carboxylic acids have a larger hydrogen atom compared to mineral acids, which makes it more difficult to remove the hydrogen ion, resulting in weaker acidity.

Conclusion:
Carboxylic acids are weaker than mineral acids due to factors such as the extent of ionization, stability of carboxylate ions, inductive effect, and the size of the acidic hydrogen atom. These factors contribute to the overall strength of an acid and determine its ability to donate H+ ions in a solution.