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GIVE a chemical test to distinguish between formic acid and acetic acid

GIVE a chemical test to distinguish between formic acid and acetic acid


 

Grade:12

3 Answers

Kamlesh Kumar
askIITians Faculty 60 Points
10 years ago
HCOOH REACTS WITH TOLLENS REAGENT [ AMMONICAL SILVER NITRATE] ,SILVER MIRROR IS FORMED WHILE CH3COOH DOES NOT REACTS WITH TOLLENS REAGENT.



thanks & regards
Kamlesh kumar
askIITians faculty
Sakthi Ganesh
24 Points
10 years ago
Test 1: To distinguish between formic acid and acetic acid use tollens(tollens reagent = ammonical silver nitrate solution) test(silver mirror) or fehling solution . Formic acid gives positive indicated by the formation of a silver mirror( Silver oxide precipitate on the walls of the test tube) test but acetic acid fails to form a silver mirror. This is because the formic acid behaves as an aldehyde as there is a CHO group the other side of the OH group and it is easily oxidised to CO2. Test 2: Take 3 drops of both the formic acid and acetic acid in 2 different test tubes, add 1 ml of distilled water, & 1-2 drops of dilute KMnO4 solution - the formic acid instantly decolorises pink color of KMnO4, while acetic acid does not. Regards, Sakthi Ganesh IIT JEE Aspirant (IIT JEE 2014)
Yash Chourasiya
askIITians Faculty 256 Points
3 years ago
Dear Student

1. By using tollens test (Silver Mirror Test) or fehling solution .

2. By using Acidified KMnO4.

I hope this answer will help you.
Thanks & Regards
Yash Chourasiya

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