Question

you have three unlabeled test tube containing ethanol and ethanoic acid and soap solution explain the method you could use to identify them compounds in different test tubes by chemical test using Litmus Paper and sodium metal

Answer 1

(1) Using litmus papers

➡ Ethanol :- Color of both of the litmus paper remains unchanged.

➡ Ethanoic acid :- Blue litmus turns red as it is an acid.

➡ Soap solution :- Red litmus turns blue as it is a base

(2) By their reaction with sodium metal

➡ Ethanol :- Sodium ethoxide will be formed with the evolution of hydrogen gas.

i.e.,

C H OH + Na(Dry) → C H ONa + H ↑

➡ Ethanoic acid :- Sodium acetate will be formed with the evolution of hydrogen gas.

i.e.,

CH COOH + Na → CH COONa + H ↑

➡ Soap solution :- As soaps are the sodium and potassium salts of fatty acids, So they react with Na metal rarely