The reagent that can be used to distinguish between methanoic acid and ethanoic acid is:

Question

The reagent that can be used to distinguish between methanoic acid and ethanoic acid is: (A) ammoniacal silver nitrate solution (B) neutral ferric chloride solution (C) sodium hydroxide solution (D) sodium carbonate solution

Tardigrade Admin · Accepted Answer

Formic acid (methanoic acid) can reduce ammoniacal silver nitrate (Tollens reagent) to silver mirror because it acts as reducing agent and in it H-atom linked with

- COO H

group is easily oxidized to

- O H

group, as follows:

H COO H + A g_{2} O amm . A g N O_{3} H_{2} O

+ C O_{2} + s i l v er mi rror 2 A g ↓

While acetic acid (ethanoic acid) cannot react with ammoniacal silver nitrate solution.

Q. The reagent that can be used to distinguish between methanoic acid and ethanoic acid is:

ammoniacal silver nitrate solution

neutral ferric chloride solution

sodium hydroxide solution

sodium carbonate solution

phenolphthalein