Which reagent would best serve as a basis for a simple chemical test to distinguish between CH₃CH₂COOH and CH₃COOCH₃? A)Concd H₂SO₄ B)Br₂/CCl₄ C)CrO₃/H₂SO₄ D)NaHCO₃/H₂O E)KMnO₄/H₂O

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The reagent that would best distinguish between the two compounds is one that would react differently with the carboxylic acid group on each compound. NaHCO3 (sodium bicarbonate) is a weak base that can be used to test for the presence of carboxylic acids. It will react with CH3COOH (acetic acid) to produce carbon dioxide gas; however, it will not react with CH3COOCH3 (methyl acetate) since it does not contain a carboxylic acid group. Therefore, choice D (NaHCO3 and HCl) is the best choice for this test.

Which Reagent Would Best Serve as a Basis for a Simple