you are here->home->Chemistry->Class 10->Properties of Acetic Acid (Ethanoic Acid)

Properties of Acetic Acid (Ethanoic Acid)

Materials Required:

Procedure:

Try the experiments below and observe the different properties of acetic acid in a real lab:

Experiment	Observation	Inference
Odour:Take a small amount of acetic acid in a test tube and detect its odour by wafting.	Pungent smell.	It has an irritating pungent smell.
Solubility in water: Take a small amount of water in a test tube and add a small amount of acetic acid to it and shake well.	A homogeneous solution is formed.	Acetic acid is soluble in water.
Effect on litmus:Take a small amount of acetic acid in a test tube and dip a strip of blue litmus paper in it.	Blue litmus turns red.	It is acidic in nature.
Reaction with sodium bicarbonate: Take a small quantity of sodium bicarbonate solution in a boiling tube. Cork the tube with a double bore cork and insert a thistle funnel into the tube. Then place a boiling tube containing lime water near the tube containing NaHCO₃ solution. Insert one end of the delivery tube into the tube containing NaHCO₃ solution and the other end into the tube containing lime water. Now, add acetic acid into NaHCO₃ solution through the thistle funnel and observe the change in colour of the lime water.	A gas is evolved which turns lime water milky	The gas produced is carbon dioxide due to the action of CH₃COOH on NaHCO₃, which turns lime water milky.

To perform the experiments using the simulator.

You can select the test by clicking on the corresponding icon.

Solubility in water

To pour acetic acid into water, drag the test tube towards the test tube containing water.
To shake the test tube, click on it.
You can see the inference by clicking on the inference icon.
Click on the ‘Reset’ button to redo the test.

Odour

You can see the inference by clicking on the inference icon.
Click on the ‘Reset’ button to redo the test.

Effect on litmus

To take acetic acid, drag the dropper towards the test tube and dip it in the test tube.
To put acetic acid on the blue litmus paper, drag the dropper towards it.
You can see the inference by clicking on the inference icon.
Click on the ‘Reset’ button to redo the test.

Reaction with NaHCO₃

To pour acetic acid into sodium bicarbonate solution, drag the conical flask towards the thistle funnel.
You can see that some gas bubbles are produced inside the test tube containing sodium bicarbonate.
You can see the inference by clicking on the inference icon.
Click on the ‘Reset’ button to redo the test.

Note: Click on the ‘HELP’ button to see the instructions.

Precautions:

Never smell acetic acid directly.
Keep the mouth of the test tube away from you and your classmates' face.
Use the chemicals judiciously.

Try the experiments and observe the changes!!