Question

List in tabular form three physical and two chemical properties on the basis of which ethanol and ethanoic acid can be differentiated.

Answer 1

Difference in physical properties of ethanol and ethanoic acid

Ethanol	Ethanoic acid
It is liquid at room temperature.	It often freezes in winter.
Its melting point is 156 K.	Its melting point is 290 K.
Its boiling point is 351 K.	Its boiling point is 391 K.

Difference in chemical properties of ethanol and ethanoic acid

Ethanol	Ethanoic acid
It releases hydrogen gas on reaction with metallic sodium.	It does not release hydrogen gas on reaction with metallic sodium.
It does not release carbon dioxide gas on reaction with sodium bicarbonate.	It releases carbon dioxide gas on reaction with sodium bicarbonate.

Ethanol and Ethanoic acid be differentiated on the basis of their following properties −

(i) Ethanol is a liquid at room temperature with a pleasant smell. Ethanoic acid has a melting point of 17°C. Since it is below the room temperature so, it freezes during winter.

Moreover, ethanoic acid has a smell like vinegar.

(ii) Ethanol does not react with metal carbonates while, ethanoic acid reacts with metal carbonates to form salt, water and carbon dioxide. For example,

2CH₃COOH + Na₂CO₃ → 2CH₃COONa + CO₂ + H₂O

(iii) Ethanol does not react with NaOH while ethanoic acid reacts with NaOH to form sodium ethanoate and water. For example,

CH₃COOH + NaOH → CH₃COONa + H₂O

(iv) Ethanol is oxidized to give ethanoic acid in presence of acidified KMnO₄ while, no reaction takes place with ethanoic acid in presence of acidified KMnO₄.

Ethanoic acid and ethanol can be distinguished by their reaction with sodium bicarbonate given as under:−

(i) Ethanoic acid give effervescence with the sodium bicarbonate by the liberation of carbon dioxide. Ethanol does not give this test. CH₃COOH + NaHCO₃ → CO₂ +CH₃COONa + H₂O

(ii) ethanol has burning taste whereas ethanoic acid has sour taste.