Question 7:

How can ethanol and ethanoic acid be differentiated on the basis of their physical and

chemical properties?

Answer:

• Ethanol is a liquid at room temperature with a pleasant odour while ethanoic acid

   has vinegar-like smell. The melting point of ethanoic acid is 17°C. This is below  

   room temperature and hence, it freezes during winters.

• Ethanoic acid reacts with metal carbonates and metal hydrogencarbonates to form

   salt,water, and carbon dioxide gas while ethanol does not react with them.

   Metal Carbonates/Metal Hydrogencarbonates + Carboxylic acid]

                                                       ↓

                                       Salt + Water + Carbon dioxide

For example,

2CH₃COOH + Na₂CO₃ → 2CH₃COONa + H₂O + CO₂

Metal Carbonates/Metal Hydrogencarbonates + Alcohols

                                                ↓

                                        No reaction

For example,

CH₃CH₂OH + Na₂CO₃ → No reaction

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