Formic acid and acetic acid may be distinguished by the reaction with:

Question

Formic acid and acetic acid may be distinguished by the reaction with: (A) sodium (B) 2, 4-dinitrophenyl hydrazine (C) litmus paper (D) Tollens reagent

Tardigrade Admin · Accepted Answer

The reagent which is used to distinguish the substances should produce different results.
For clue draw structure of both.

Formic acid has

- C H O

group so it gives all tests of aldehyde group and

OCOO H

does not give.

formic acid H COO H + A g N O_{3} + N H_{3} \to silver mirror A g + C O_{2} + H_{2} O

C H_{3} COO H + A g N O_{3} + N H_{3} \to

No reaction acetic acid

2, 4

-dinitrophenyl hydrazine test is given by carbonyl compounds.

Q. Formic acid and acetic acid may be distinguished by the reaction with:

sodium

2, 4-dinitrophenyl hydrazine

litmus paper

Tollens reagent