Which of the following compounds has the empirical formula, (CH2O) and reacts with sodium hydroxide?
Correct answer: C. Acetic acid
- A. Carbonic acid
- B. Ethanol
- C. Acetic acid
- D. Methanoic acid
Explanation
Acetic acid (CH3COOH) has the empirical formula CH2O, as the molecular formula can be simplified to CH2O by dividing each subscript by the greatest common divisor (in this case, 2). Acetic acid reacts with sodium hydroxide (NaOH) in an acid-base reaction to form sodium acetate (CH3COONa) and water (H2O). The other options do not have the empirical formula CH2O and/or do not react with sodium hydroxide.
This question appeared on the NUMS 2019 (cancelled sitting) paper, which you can sit online with every answer explained.
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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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