Question

Give chemical tests to detect the presence of (a) ethanol and (b) ethanoic acid

Answer 1

Sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3) test.

Acids stronger than Carbonic acid (H2CO3) give this test. Hence ethanoic acid will give this test but ethanol won’t.

Observation is effervescence of CO2 gas.

Ethanoic acid + NaHCO3 → CO2 gas

Ethanol + NaHCO3 → no CO2 gas

Answer 2

a)Add Na metal to ethanol -- hydrogen gas evolved
b) add Na2CO3 to Ethanoic acid-- carbon dioxide gas evolved