Question

What is the test to distinguish between ethanol and ethanoic acid?

Answer 1

Distinguish between ethanol and ethanoic acid

• A sodium bicarbonate test is used to distinguish between ethanol and ethanoic acid.
• Ethanol does not react with Sodium bicarbonate.
• Ethanoic acid gives brisk effervescence with Sodium bicarbonate.
• The reaction is as follows:-
• $$\begin{gathered} {\mathrm{CH}}_3\mathrm{COOH}\left(\mathrm{l}\right)+{\mathrm{NaHCO}}_3{\left(\mathrm{s}\right)}_{}\to {\mathrm{CH}}_3\mathrm{COONa}\left(\mathrm{s}\right)+{\mathrm{H}}_2\mathrm{O}\left(\mathrm{l}\right)+{\mathrm{CO}}_2\left(\mathrm{g}\right)\uparrow \\ \mathrm{Ethanoic}\mathrm{acid}\mathrm{Sodium}\mathrm{bicarbonate}\mathrm{Sodium}\mathrm{acetate}\mathrm{water}\mathrm{carbondioxide} \end{gathered}$$