Question

Name the compound $C{H}_{3}C{H}_{2}OH$ identify its functional group.
Give a chemical test to distinguish between ethanol and ethanoic acid.
Name the product formed when an organic acid reacts with an alcohol in presence of an acid catalyst. What is the name assigned to this type of reaction?

Answer 1

Hint: We know that functional groups are groups of atoms that decide the chemical reactivity of the compound in which they present. While differentiating between ethanol and ethanoic acid; their appearance at room temperature, physical state at room temperature, odor, reactivity towards metal carbonates plays a very important role.

Complete step by step solution:
We know that there are many functional groups, such as alkane, alkene, alkyne, alcohol, aldehyde, ketone, carboxylic acid etc. Alkene is the functional group in which double bonds between atoms are present. Alcohol is a functional group which is bonded to alkyl or aryl chains. The structure of the alcohol functional group is $R-OH$ . Similarly the given compound $C{H}_{3}C{H}_{2}OH$ is ethanol, i.e. alcoholic functional group.

Chemical test to distinguish between ethanol and ethanoic acid.

Parameter	Ethanol	Ethanoic acid
Reaction with hydrogen carbonate and sodium bicarbonate.	Ethanol does not react with carbonates or hydrogen carbonates. $C{H}_{3}C{H}_{2}OH+N{a}_{2}C{O}_3\to NoReaction$	Ethanoic acid reacts with sodium bicarbonate as shown in the reaction below. $C{H}_{3}COOH+NaHC{O}_3\to C{H}_{3}COONa+H_{2}O+C{O}_2$
Litmus paper test	Ethanol is a neutral compound and does not change the color of litmus paper.	Ethanoic acid turns blue litmus paper red, indicating that it is acidic in nature. It is a weak acid as it dissociates partially in aqueous solution.

According to information explained in the above table, we conclude that ethanol and ethanoic acid can be differentiated based on melting point, litmus paper test, and sodium bicarbonate reaction.
Esterification reaction: When carboxylic acid reacts with alcohol, the product formed is known as an ester. Below is an example of the formation of an ester from the reaction of ethanoic acid with absolute ethanol in the presence of an acid as a catalyst. $C{H}_{3}COOH+C_2{H}_{5}OH\stackrel{H_{2}S{O}_4}{\to }C{H}_{3}COO{C}_2{H}_5$



Note:
Ethanol has an ethyl group whereas ethanoic acid has a methyl group. Ethanoic acid is a carboxylic acid and ethanol is alcohol. Ethanol contains a hydroxyl group whereas ethanoic acid contains a carboxyl group. Acetic acid is the second simplest carboxylic acid. It consists of a methyl group attached to a carboxyl group. It is an important chemical reagent and industrial chemical, used primarily in the production of cellulose acetate for photographic