Question

Raina while doing certain reactions observed that heating of substance ‘X’ with a vinegar-like smell with a substance ‘Y’ (which is used as an industrial solvent.) in the presence of conc. Sulphuric acid in a water bath gives a sweet-smelling liquid ‘Z’ having molecular formula C₄H₈O₂. When heated with caustic soda (NaOH), ‘Z’ gives back the sodium salt and the compound ‘Y’.

Identify ‘X’, ‘Y’, and ‘Z’. Illustrate the changes with the help of suitable chemical equations.

Answer 1

• X - Ethanoic acid/acetic acid/CH₃COOH
• Y - Ethanol/Ethyl alcohol/C₂H₅OH
• Z - Ethyl ethanoate/Ester/CH₃COOC₂H₅

\[\ce{\underset{(Ethanoic acid)}{CH3-COOH} + \underset{(Ethanol)}{CH3 - CH2OH} <=>[Acid]\underset{(Ester)}{CH3-\underset{\overset{11}{O}}{C}-O-CH2-CH3} + H2O}\]

\[\ce{CH3COOC2H5 ->[NaOH]C2H5OH + CH3COONa}\]