Which of the following is used to distinguish ethylene and acetylene?
The two hydrocarbons can be easily distinguished by simple chemical tests, as ethyne molecule is supposed to have acidic hydrogen.
1.When ethyne is bubbled through ammoniacal silver nitrate solution , a yellow-white precipitate of silver acetylide would be formed.
C2H2+2AgNO3⟶Ag2C2+2HNO3
2. Similarly, ethyne forms a red precipitate of copper acetylide (Cu2C2) when it is passed through ammoniacal cuprous chloride solution.
Ethene does not react with AgNO3 or Cu2Cl2 solution.