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Acetic Acid is an organic acid. The chemical formula of acetic acid is CH3COOH. The IUPAC name of acetic acid is ethanoic acid. Any compound which is organic and contains the group of carboxylic i.e. (-COOH) then the compound is known as carboxylic acid. Sirka is the other name for vinegar; it is a solution of diluted acetic acid. Only 4-5 % of acetic acid is present in vinegar. Acetic acid has a sour taste and smells like vinegar. The experiment aims to find the odour, solubility, effect on litmus, and reaction with sodium bicarbonate of acetic acid.
| Table of Contents |
Key Terms: Acetic Acid, Carbon Dioxide, Sodium Bicarbonate, Water, Odour, Litmus Paper, Solubility, Lime Water., Carboxylic Acid
Aim
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To study the properties like odour, solubility in water, reaction with sodium bicarbonate, and effect on the litmus.
Materials Required
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- Acetic acid
- Test tube
- Litmus paper
- Dropper
- Cork fit
- Test tube stand
- Water
- Beaker
- Acetic acid
- Sodium bicarbonate
- Distilled water
- Freshly Prepared Lime water
Theory
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- Acetic acid has high solubility. Acetic acid when mixed with water exhibits acidity by getting ionized in the water.
- The reaction of acetic acid and water is CH3COOH(I)+H2O(I) → CH3COO-(aq)+H3O+(aq)
- The effect of Acetic acid on litmus paper. Acetic acid turns blue litmus papers into red but acetic acid doesn’t turn red into any colour.
- Acetic acid when combined with sodium bicarbonate produces a brisk effervescence. The brisk effervescences are produced due to the formation of CO2 gas.
- The products produced in the reaction of acetic acid and sodium bicarbonate are sodium acetate, carbon dioxide, and water.
- Lime water combined with CO2, limewater turns milky due to the formation of calcium carbonate. The formed calcium carbonate is an insoluble compound.
- If an excess of CO2 is treated with solution then the milkiness will disappear.
- The reaction of acetic acid with sodium bicarbonate is given as
- CH3COOH + NaHCO3 → CH3COONa + CO2 + H2O
- The reaction of lime water with carbon dioxide is given as
- Ca(OH)2 + CO2 → CaCO3 + H2O
- CaCO3 + CO2 + H2O → Ca (HCO3)2
Acetic Acid
Read More: Carbonate Ion Formula
Procedure
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- To Determine Odour: In a test, the tube takes a 5 ml quantity of acetic acid now, observing the colour and the odour (smell) of the acetic acid. Note down the observations simultaneously in the observation table.
- To Check Solubility in Water: In a test, the tube takes 2ml of water and adds 1ml quantity of acetic acid into it, and shakes the solution properly.
- To Determine Effect on litmus paper: Take a blue litmus paper strip and with help of a glass rod put a drop of acetic acid on the litmus paper. Now observe the change in the colour of litmus paper and note down the observations. Repeat the process with the red litmus paper.
- Reaction with Sodium Bicarbonate: Take 2 ml quantity of acetic acid into a clean test tube. Now a pinch of sodium bicarbonate should be added to the test tube and shake it well. Near the mouth of the test tube holding a burning splinter. Place the cork holding the delivery tube in the test tube so that the other end is submerged in the test tube. The obtained gas is passed through lime water and the record of the observed values of the reaction is in the observation table.
Read More: Determination Of pH Experiment
Observation
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| Experiment | Observation | Inference |
|---|---|---|
| Odour (Testing smell of the acetic acid) | The smell of vinegar with a pungent odour. | The smell of acetic acid is like vinegar. |
| Solubility (The ability to dissolve in water) | Formation of a Homogeneous solution. | The solubility of acetic acid in water is high. |
| Effect on litmus (Testing acetic acid on both blue and red litmus paper) | Blue litmus paper is turned into red. No change is observed in the red litmus paper. | The nature of Acetic acid is acidic. There is no quality of base in acetic acid. |
| Reaction with sodium bicarbonate (Testing the combination of sodium bicarbonate and acetic acid) | A colourless and odourless gas is produced. The gas turns into lime water milky. When excess gas is passed the milkiness will disappear. | In the reaction of acetic acid and sodium bicarbonate, CO2 gas is released. |
Read More: Concentration of a Solution
Result
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- The odour of acetic acid is the pungent odour of vinegar.
- Solubility in the water of acetic acid is high.
- The effect of the acetic acid on blue litmus turns it into the red.
- CO2 gas is evolved in the reaction of acetic acid and sodium bicarbonate
- CH3COOH + NaHCO3 → CH3COONa + CO2 + H2O
- 2CH3COOH+Na2CO3 → 2CH3COONa + CO2 + H2O
- Carbon dioxide turns lime water milky.
- Ca(OH)2 + CO2 → CaCO3 + H2O
The experiment aims to find the odour, solubility, effect on litmus, and reaction with sodium bicarbonate of acetic acid and the final result of the experiment is the odour of acetic acid is pungent. The solubility is high, and the effect of acetic acid on litmus is it turns is blue litmus paper into red, so the acetic acid is acidic in nature. The reaction of acetic acid with sodium bicarbonate produces sodium acetate, carbon dioxide, and water.
Read More: Difference Between Acetic Acid and Glacial Acetic Acid
Precautions
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- During the experiment, all the chemicals should not be touched with bare hands. Using apparatus like a glass rod or burette the chemicals should be transferred into the test tubes.
- Any vapours or smell of chemicals should not be inhaled for a long time.
Read More: Examples of Weak Acids
Things to Remember
- Acetic Acid is an organic acid with the chemical formula CH3COOH.
- Acetic acid has a sour taste and smells pungent like vinegar.
- The solubility of acetic acid in water is high.
- The nature of Acetic acid is acidic.
- The experiment of acetic acid with sodium bicarbonate produces carbon dioxide. With the carbon dioxide in the lime water, lime water turns milky.
Sample Questions
Ques. Why the acetic acid is a weak acid? (3 Marks)
Ans. When an acid doesn’t dissociate completely in a solution then the acid is said to be a Weak acid. Acetic acid is a weak acid because when it is mixed in an aqueous solution it cannot be converted into hydronium ions as it is not a strong enough proton donor.
Ques. What happens when acetic acid reacts with water? (3 Marks)
Ans. When an equal amount of water and acetic acid is mixed it produces a clear, colourless solution. As acetic acid is a weak acid it produces hydronium, and acetate ions and produces a uniform solution when reacted with water. The reaction of acetic acid and water is given as
CH3COOH + H2O → CH3COO- + H3O+
Ques. What are the uses of acetic acid? (3 Marks)
Ans. The uses of acetic acid are listed below:
- Acetic acid is an aqueous solution used in cellulose acetate; manufacture of rubber, manufacture of acetic anhydride, dyes, plastics, chemicals used in photography, and insecticides.
- Acetic acid is used for household things like food products like vinegar, pickled vegetables, and sauce, and as a raw material for spice, and cleaning purpose.
- Acetic acid is also used for medical purposes like the antiseptic agent, and treatment of wounds.
Ques. What is the pH value of acetic acid? (3 Marks)
Ans. The pH value is the measure of the acidity or the basicity of a substance or a solution. On a scale from 0 to 14 the pH value is measured. A solution or a substance is said to be neutral when the pH value is neutral. A solution or a substance is said to be acidic when the pH value is below 7. A solution or a substance is said to be basic when the pH value is above 7. The pH value of the 1.0 M solution of acetic acid is 2.4.
Ques. What happens when acetic acid is in direct contact with skin? (3 Marks)
Ans. When skin or eyes get direct contact with acetic acid, the skin tissues which are exposed get severe burns and the skin gets cracked. Acetic acid which is 80% acidic or acidic more than 80% is corrosive. Acetic acid shouldn’t touch with the bare hands. It can cause cracking of exposed skin and darkening of the skin cells of exposed skin.
Ques. What happens when the vapours of acetic acid are inhaled? (3 Marks)
Ans. When the vapours of acetic acid are inhaled for a long duration may cause health issues like chronic bronchitis and respiratory problems, eye, throat, nose irritation, tightness in the chest, headache, fever, and severe cough. If the acetic acid is strong in nature, it can cause respiratory damage, eye damage, and tachycardia.
Ques. What is the common name of acetic acid in the form of the dilute solution? (3 Marks)
Ans. The common name of acetic acid in the form of the dilute solution is vinegar. Vinegar is a dilute solution of 5% acetic acid that is produced by the fermentation process and oxidation of natural carbohydrates.
Ques. How will you test the acidic nature of the acetic acid? (3 Marks)
Ans. The nature of a compound or solution is measured on a pH scale. This measure is known for testing solutions with litmus paper. If the compound turns the blue litmus paper into red, then the compound is acidic. If the compound turns the red litmus paper into blue, then the compound is basic. The acidic nature of acetic acid is tested by using blue litmus paper. It turns the blue litmus paper into red, so the acetic acid chemical is acidic in nature.
Ques. Is Acetic acid organic or inorganic acid? (3 Marks)
Ans. A compound is said to be an organic compound when it has carbon atoms. When a compound doesn’t have any carbon atoms in it, then the compound is said to be an inorganic compound. Acetic acid formula is CH3COOH. As the acetic acid has carbon atoms it is an organic acid.
Ques. What is the functional group of acetic acid? (3 Marks)
Ans. In organic compounds, functional groups are defined by the specific bonding arrangements between specific atoms. Functional groups are the structural units in organic chemistry. The functional group of acetic acid is carboxylic acid. Any compound which is organic and contains the group of carboxylic i.e. (-COOH) then the compound is known as carboxylic acid.
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