Question

State how would you distinguish between Acetic acid and Ethanol
in yourlaboratory. Give chemical equation of the reactions shown by
them.Write the chemical equations involved

Answer 1

Acetic acid reacts with sodium bicarbonate to give effervescence due to formation of CO2 gas.
NaHCO3 (s) + CH3COOH (aq) → CO2 (g) + CH3COONa (aq) + H2O(l)
Acetic acid

Ethanol does not give this reaction.

Answer 2

Given Organic compounds are Ethanol [C2H5OH]
AND ACETIC ACID[CH3COOH]

Chemical test to distinguish Ethanol and acetic acid:

1. Take Na2CO3 in two different test tubes.
[label it as Test tube 1 and test tube 2]

2.Add 10ml of  acetic acid in test tube 1 and 10ml of ethanol  test tube 2 .

3. We Can see the effervescence of CO2 in test tube 1 indicating the chemical reaction has occurred.

4. No such effervescence will be seen in test tube 2 .[ETHANOL DOES NOT REACT]

Chemical equation :

Na2CO3(s) +2CH3COOH(aq)----->2CH3COONa(aq) +CO2 (g)+H2O(l)

C2H5OH +Na2CO3 --------> NO REACTION