Methanoic acid differs from other carboxylic acids in that it also
Correct answer: B. acts as a reducing agent, giving a silver mirror with Tollens reagent
- A. fails to react with alkalis
- B. acts as a reducing agent, giving a silver mirror with Tollens reagent
- C. contains no carboxyl group
- D. is insoluble in water
Explanation
Its carboxyl carbon also carries a hydrogen, so the molecule contains an aldehyde group as well and can be oxidised further to carbon dioxide, which no other carboxylic acid can do. This is why methanoic acid reduces Tollens and Fehling's reagents. It is otherwise a typical, and in fact the strongest, of the simple aliphatic acids.
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About Reactivity of Carboxylic Acids
Carboxylic acids show acidic behaviour because their carboxylate ions are resonance-stabilised, and electron-withdrawing groups can change their strength. Reactions include neutralisation, esterification, formation of acid chlorides and amides, reduction, decarboxylation and substitution at the acyl carbon, which differs from the reactions of phenols.
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