how can ethanol and ethanoic acid being been differentiated on the basis of physical and chemical properties?
Answers
Here is the difference between ethanol and ethanoic acid:
1. Pure ethanol is colorless and flammable while ethanoic acid is also colorless but has a distinct vinegar-like smell.
2. The boiling point of ethanol is78.37 °C while ethanoic acid is higher at 118.1 °C. This means that ethanol evaporates first than ethanoic acid.
3. Ethanol has an ethyl group with -OH functional group while ethanoic acid is composed of a methyl group with -COOH functional group.
4. Pure ethanol is basic while pure ethanoic acid is acidic.
The differences between ethanol and ethanoic acid are as follows:
• As far as odour of the two is concerned, ethanol has a good fragrance whereas ethanoic acid has a pungent smell
• Ethanol and sodium bicarbonate when mixed, has no reaction but when ethanoic acid and sodium bicarbonate are mixed, they react vigorously liberating carbon dioxide gas.