Question
Explain the chemical properties of ethanoic acid.

Answer

  • $(1)$ Esterification reaction:
  • Reaction of a carboxylic acid and an alcohol in the presence of an acid catalyst forms ester and water.
  • This reaction is called an esterification reaction.
  • Ethanoic acid reacts with absolute ethanol in the presence of an acid catalyst to form ester and water.
  • $CH _3- C - OH + HO - CH _2- CH _3 \stackrel{\text { Acid }}{\rightleftharpoons} CH _3- C - O - CH _2 CH _3+ H _2 O \| \mid$ Ethanol \|| Water O O Ethanoic acid Ethyl acetate (Ester)
  • Esters are sweet smelling liquids and are used in making perfumes and flavouring agents.
  • A reaction of an ester with an alkali forming an alcohol and sodium salt of carboxylic acid is called saponification reaction.
  • On treating with sodium hydroxide, which is an alkali (base), the ester is converted back to alcohol and sodium salt of carboxylic acid.
  • $CH _3 COOC _2 H _5 \xrightarrow{ NaOH } C _2 H _5 OH + CH _3 COONa$ Ethyl acetate Ethanol Sodium acetate
  • $(2)$ Reaction with a base (Neutralisation)
  • Like mineral acids $\left( HCl , HNO _3, H _2 SO _4\right)$, carboxylic acid reacts with a base to form salt and water.
  • This is called neutralisation reaction.
  • Ethanoic acid reacts with sodium hydroxide and forms sodium ethanoate (salt) and water.
  • $CH _3- C - OH + HO - Na \rightarrow CH _3- C - ONa + H _2 O \|$ Sodium \|| Water O hydroxide O Ethanoic acid Sodium ethanoate
  • $(3)$ Reaction with carbonates and hydrogen carbonates: [2 Marks]
  • Ethanoic acid reacts with carbonates and hydrogencarbonates to form a salt, water and carbon dioxide.
  • Here, the salt formed is sodium acetate.
  • $2 CH _3 COOH + Na _2 CO _3 \rightarrow 2 CH _3 COONa + H _2 O + CO _2$
  • Ethanoic Sodium Sodium Water Carbon acid carbonate acetate dioxide
  • $CH _3 COOH + NaHCO _3 \rightarrow CH _3 COONa + H _2 O + CO _2$
  • Ethanoic Sodium Sodium Water Carbonacid hydrogencarbonate acetate dioxide

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