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  4. Assertion: Formic acid reduces mercuric chloride to mercurous chloride on heating, while acetic acid does not. Reason: Formic acid is stronger than acetic acid.

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Q. Assertion: Formic acid reduces mercuric chloride to mercurous chloride on heating, while acetic acid does not.
Reason: Formic acid is stronger than acetic acid.

AIIMSAIIMS 2000Aldehydes Ketones and Carboxylic Acids

Solution:

Formic acid behaves as reducing agent as it is oxidised to an unstable acid carbonic acid, which decomposes into $CO_2$ and $H_2O$

$HCOOH + 2HgCl_2$

$\Rightarrow Hg_2Cl_2 + CO_2+ 2HCl $

$HCOOH + Hg_2Cl_2$

$\Rightarrow CO_2 + 2HCl + 2Hg$ (Black)

Acetic acid remains unaffected by mercuric chloride, as it does not show reducing properties.