Question

Write the two chemical tests to distinguish ethyne and ethene

Answer 1

Ethyne $\left({\mathrm{C}}_2{\mathrm{H}}_2\right)$ is a hydrocarbon that contains a Carbon-Carbon $(\mathrm{C}\equiv \mathrm{C})$triple bond.

Ethene $\left({\mathrm{C}}_2{\mathrm{H}}_4\right)$ is a hydrocarbon that contains a Carbon-Carbon $(\mathrm{C}=\mathrm{C})$ double bond.

There are two tests to distinguish between Ethyne and Ethene:

• Treatment of Ammoniacal Silver Nitrate

When ammoniacal Silver Nitrate $\left({\mathrm{AgNO}}_3\right)$ is added to Ethyne then it gives white precipitates. But when Ammoniacal silver nitrate is added to Ethene then no reaction occurs and no precipitates obtain.

• Treatment of Cuprous Chloride

When ammoniacal Cuprous Chloride $\left({\mathrm{CuCl}}_2\right)$ is added to Ethyne then it gives red precipitates. But when it is added to Ethene then no reaction occurs and no precipitate is obtained.