Which of the following compounds on treatment with NaHCO3 will liberate CO2?
Correct answer: A. CH3COOH
- A. CH3COOH
- B. C2H5NH2
- C. CH3COCH3
- D. CH3CH2OH
Explanation
The correct answer is CH3COOH. Carboxylic acids, such as acetic acid (CH3COOH), react with sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3) to produce carbon dioxide (CO2), water, and a sodium salt. This reaction is due to the acidic nature of carboxylic acids, which can donate a proton to the bicarbonate ion. In contrast, ethylamine (C2H5NH2), acetone (CH3COCH3), and ethanol (CH3CH2OH) do not have the acidic hydrogen necessary to react with NaHCO3 and thus do not liberate CO2.
This question appeared on the ETEA MDCAT 2012 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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