Name: Micelles
Uploaded: 2019-07-19
Duration: 5 min 52 s
Description: In daily life, we use soaps and detergents. But have you ever thought about how their cleansing action takes place? Let’s explore the complete mechanism and...

Question

An organic compound 'A' is widely used as a preservative in pickles and has a molecular formula $C_{2} H_{4} O_{2}$ . The compound reacts with ethanol to form a sweet smelling compound 'B'.

(i) Identify the compound 'A'.
(ii) Write the chemical equation for its reaction with ethanol to form compound 'B'.
(iii) How can we get compound 'A' back from 'B'?
(iv) Which gas is produced when compound 'A' reacts with washing soda? Write the chemical equation.

Accepted Answer

(i) The compound A is ethanoic acid. It reacts with ethanol to form a sweet-smelling ester called ethyl ethanoate.

(ii) The chemical equation for the reaction involved is,

${CH}_{3} COOH + C_{2} H_{5} OH \to {CH}_{3} {COOC}_{2} H_{5} + H_{2} O$ .

(iii) The compound B can be converted back into A by reacting with a dilute solution of HCl. This reaction is known as ester hydrolysis reaction.

${CH}_{3} {COOC}_{2} H_{5} + H_{2} O \overset{H^{+}}{\to} {CH}_{3} COOH + C_{2} H_{5} OH$ .

(iv) Carbon dioxide is the gas produced along with the production of sodium ethanoate and water when ethanoic acid reacts with washing soda. Washing soda is sodium carbonate.

$2 {CH}_{3} COOH + {Na}_{2} {CO}_{3} \to 2 {CH}_{3} COONa + H_{2} O + {CO}_{2}$ .

Important Questions on Carbon And Its Compounds

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