Question

Give reasons for the following : Acetic acid can be halogenated in the presence of red P and Cl₂ but formic acid cannot be halogenated in the same way.

Answer 1

The halogenation of acetic acid is due to the presence of methyl group. But, in formic acid, HCOOH has no alkyl group attached to the –COOH group, while acetic acid, CH3COOH has a methyl group attached to the –COOH group. The CH3 group in CH3COOH is halogenated