Question 7
How can ethanol and ethanoic acid be differentiated on the basis of their physical and chemical properties?
Open in App
Solution
Ethanol and ethanoic acid be differentiated on the basis of their following properties:
Ethanol is liquid at room temperature with a pleasant smell. Ethanoic acid has a melting point of 17∘C. Since the melting point is below the room temperature, ethanoic acid freezes during winter and it has a smell similar to vinegar.
Ethanol does not react with metal carbonates while ethanoic acid reacts with metal carbonates to form salt, water and carbon dioxide.
For example: 2CH3COOH+Na2CO3→2CH3COONa+CO2+H2O
Ethanol does not react with NaOH while ethanoic acid reacts with NaOH to form sodium ethanoate and water. For example, CH3COOH+NaOH→CH3COONa+H2O
Ethanol is oxidized to give ethanoic acid in presence of acidified KMnO4 while no reaction takes place with ethanoic acid in presence of acidified KMnO4.