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Activity 4.6 — Ethanoic Acid Properties
NCERT Activity 4.6: Investigate the properties of ethanoic acid — its vinegar smell, litmus test, reaction with NaHCO₃, and esterification with ethanol.
How To Perform
1
Smell Test
Carefully smell ethanoic acid — it has a sharp, pungent vinegar odor.
2
Litmus Test
Dip blue litmus paper — it turns red, confirming it's an acid.
3
NaHCO₃ Test
Add sodium bicarbonate — brisk CO₂ effervescence confirms carboxylic acid.
4
Esterification
React with ethanol + H₂SO₄ to form a sweet-smelling ester.
⚠️ Safety Notes
- •Ethanoic acid is corrosive — avoid contact with skin and eyes.
- •Concentrated H₂SO₄ is extremely corrosive — handle with care and add slowly.
- •Do not inhale ester fumes directly — they are strong-smelling.
- •Heating must be done gently — avoid boiling over.