why is necessary to use acetic acid and not sulpuric acid for acidfication of sodium extract for testing sulphur by lead acetate?
Answers
Usually, for the purpose of acidification of sodium extract for testing Sulphur by lead acetate, acetic acid is used. But since your question is demanding the reason why is acetic acid used but not sulphuric acid, so here it goes. If instead of acetic acid, sulphuric acid is used then it will produce white precipitate of lead sulphate. Furthermore, along with the white precipitate of lead sulphate, the reaction will also give ethanoic acid as a product. Thus, white precipitate will interfere during the entire process of testing Sulphur. However, if you use the usual acetic acid for testing Sulphur then there will be no white precipitate produced and won’t interfere in the process of Sulphur testing.
Explanation:
When acetic acid is used, complete precipitation of sulphur in the form of lead sulphate occurs due to common ion effect.
- Hence, it is necessary to use acetic acid for acidification of sodium extract for testing sulphur by lead acetate test.