Question

Explain acidic nature of acetylene with reaction

Answer 1

Explanation:

Acetylene shows acidic character because carbon is sp hybridized containing 50% s-character which makes -C-H bond highly acidic in nature. The acidic character of -C-H can be easily justified when heated with sodium metal which displaces hydrogen from acetylene forming sodium acetylide.

Answer 2

Solution:

Acetylene $(CH \equiv CH)$ is sp - hybridised molecule.

The percentage s - character in acetylene is 50%.

Greater is the percentage s - character of a molecule, greater is its acidic strength.

So, acetylene is acidic in nature as it can easily release $H^{+}$ ions during reactions.

Reaction to show that acetylene is acidic in nature:

Reaction of acetylene with Sodamide

Acetylene reacts with sodamide to produce Sodium acetylide and ammonia is evolved.

$CH \equiv CH + NaNH_2 \rightarrow CH \equiv C - Na + NH_3 \uparrow$