Question

Write a chemical test to distinguish ethanoic acid and ethanol.

Answer 1

Step 1:

In Ethanoic acid $\left({\mathrm{CH}}_3\mathrm{COOH}\right)$ carboxyl group is present which represents that the compound has a carboxylic functional group.

In Ethanol $\left({\mathrm{CH}}_3{\mathrm{CH}}_2\mathrm{OH}\right)$ hydroxyl group is present which represents that the compound has an alcohol functional group.

Step 2: The chemical test to distinguish between Ethanoic acid and Ethanol:

Sodium bicarbonate test $\left({\mathrm{NaHCO}}_3\right)$:

In the Sodium bicarbonate test, Sodium bicarbonate is added to the sample of organic acid. After some time Sodium bicarbonate reacts with the acid sample to evolve Carbon dioxide $\left({\mathrm{CO}}_2\right)$ gas.

Ethanoic acid reacts with Sodium bicarbonate to form Carbon dioxide with effervescence.

$$\begin{gathered} {\mathrm{CH}}_3\mathrm{COOH}\left(\mathrm{aq}\right)+{\mathrm{NaHCO}}_3\left(\mathrm{s}\right)\to {\mathrm{CH}}_3\mathrm{COONa}\left(\mathrm{aq}\right)+{\mathrm{CO}}_2\left(\mathrm{g}\right)+{\mathrm{H}}_2\mathrm{O}\left(\mathrm{l}\right) \\ (\mathrm{Ethanoic}(\mathrm{Sodium}(\mathrm{Sodium}\mathrm{acetate})(\mathrm{Carbon}(\mathrm{Water}) \\ \mathrm{acid})\mathrm{bicarbonate})\mathrm{dioxide}) \end{gathered}$$

But, Ethanol does not give any reaction with Sodium bicarbonate.