Ethanol and Ethanoic Acid: Structure, Properties, Reactions, Uses

Chemical Properties of Ethanoic acid

Ethanoic acid contains carboxylic acid as a functional group. All chemical reactions in which ethanoic acid participates occur due to this active carboxylic acid group.

1. The reaction of Ethanoic acid with a base

Ethanoic acid undergoes a neutralisation reaction with a strong base like sodium hydroxide to form salt and water. The IUPAC name of the salt formed is sodium ethanoate, commonly named sodium acetate.

2. The reaction of Ethanoic acid with Carbonate and Bicarbonate

Ethanoic acid reacts with sodium carbonate and sodium bicarbonate to form salt, water, and carbon dioxide gas. This reaction can be confirmed by a laboratory experiment in which effervescence is observed in a test tube having sodium carbonate or sodium bicarbonate when acetic acid is added. When the gas released in effervescence is passed through the lime water, it turns milky due to the formation of calcium carbonate precipitate. This confirms the release of carbon dioxide gas. This property of carbonates and bicarbonates to react with acid and release carbon dioxide gas is used in baking cakes.

3. The reaction of Ethanoic acid with Sodium

When a small piece of Sodium is dropped into a container of ethanoic acid, it reacts steadily to form a colourless solution of sodium acetate and gives off bubbles of hydrogen gas. It is an excellent example of an acid-base reaction where sodium acts as a base and ethanoic acid.

Difference between Ethanol and Ethanoic Acid

The difference between these two commercially essential carbon compounds are discussed below:

Ethanol	Ethanoic Acid
1. Functional group present in Ethanol is alcohol.	1. Functional group present in ethanoic acid is a carboxylic acid.
2. Ethanol has a pleasant smell.	2. Ethanoic acid smells like vinegar.
3. Boiling point of Ethanol is low, i.e., \({78^ \circ }{\rm{C}}\).	3. Boiling point of ethanoic acid is high, i.e., .\({118^ \circ }{\rm{C}}\)
4 .Ethanol gets oxidised to ethanoic acid in the presence of acidified \({\rm{KMn}}{{\rm{O}}_4}\).	4. Ethanoic acid does not react with \({\rm{KMn}}{{\rm{O}}_4}\)
5. Ethanol does not react with sodium carbonate or bicarbonate.	5.Ethanoic acid reacts with sodium carbonate and sodium bicarbonate to form sodium acetate salt, water, and carbon dioxide gas.

Esterification: Ethanol reacts with ethanoic acid to produce a compound with a fruity smell is called Ethyl ethanoate which is an ester. The concentrated sulphuric acid is used as a dehydrating agent which removes water. Esterification is a reversible reaction. Due to this reason, an ester is distilled off as soon as it is formed.

Saponification: It is the reverse of the esterification reaction in which acidic hydrolysis takes place. Water and ester salt is used to produce back carboxylic acid and alcohol.

Uses of Ethanol and Ethanoic Acid

The uses are explained below

Ethanol Uses:

1. Ethanol is used in the preparation of medicines like tincture of iodine (antiseptic that contains \(2\) to \({\rm{7 \% }}\) iodine, along with potassium iodide or sodium iodide, dissolved in a solution of Ethanol and water), cough syrups, and tonics.
2. Ethanol is used as a starting material in the manufacture of organic compounds like acetaldehyde, acetic acid and chloroform.
3. Ethanol is used as a preservative for biological specimens in laboratories.
4. Ethanol is widely used in alcoholic beverages.
5. Due to its antiseptic properties, Ethanol is used in sanitisers to keep us away from any pathogen infections.
6. Ethanol as gasoline is used in fuels.

Ethanoic Acid Uses:

1. Ethanoic acid is used to make vinegar which is its aqueous solution. Vinegar is used as a preservative in pickles.
2. Acetic acid is used in dyes, paints and coating additives.
3. It is a component of wood adhesives and other sealants.

Summary

Ethanol and ethanoic acid are very important organic compounds. Both are medicinally important as Ethanol is used in many medicines such as cough syrups, ethanoic acid is used to treat bacterial and fungal infections. The chemical formula of Ethanol is \({{\rm{C}}_2}{{\rm{H}}_5}{\rm{OH}}\), and that of ethanoic acid is \({\rm{C}}{{\rm{H}}_3}{\rm{COOH}}\). Ethanol is prepared by fermentation of sugars by yeast. It is used in making alcoholic beverages, neurotoxin drugs, etc. Ethanol is a volatile, colourless, flammable liquid with a pleasant smell. Ethanoic acid is a colourless liquid having a strong, pungent smell commonly known as acetic acid. Ethanol is oxidised to ethanoic acid in the presence of a strong oxidising agent.

FAQs on Ethanol and Ethanoic Acid

Q.1: What is the difference between ethanol and ethanoic acid?
Ans: There are various differences between ethanol and ethanoic acid. Ethanol has an ethyl group, while ethanoic acid has a methyl group as a substituent. Ethanol has a hydroxyl group, while ethanoic acid has a carboxyl group. Ethanol is used to make alcoholic beverages and cough syrups, while ethanoic acid is used to make vinegar and disinfectants.

Q.2: What happens when ethanoic acid reacts with Ethanol?
Ans: Ethanol reacts with ethanoic acid to produce a compound with a fruity smell is called Ethyl ethanoate which is an ester. This reaction is known as an esterification reaction.

Q.3: What does Ethanol react with to make ethanoic acid?
Ans: Ethanol on oxidation form Ethanoic acid in the presence of a strong oxidising agent like acidified \({\rm{KMn}}{{\rm{O}}_4}\).

Q.4: What is the formula of Ethanol?
Ans: The chemical formula of Ethanol is \({{\rm{C}}_2}{{\rm{H}}_5}{\rm{OH}}\). Ethanol is prepared by fermentation of sugars by yeast.

Q.5: What is the smell of ethanol and ethanoic acid?
Ans: Ethanol is a volatile, colourless, flammable liquid with a pleasant smell, while ethanoic acid is a colourless liquid with a strong, vinegar-like smell.

Q.6: What are the uses of Ethanol and Ethanoic Acid?
Ans: Ethanol is used in the pharmaceutical industry to manufacture medicines like tincture of iodine (antiseptic that contains \(2\) to \({\rm{7 \% }}\) iodine, along with potassium iodide or sodium iodide, dissolved in a solution of Ethanol and water), cough syrups, and tonics. Nowadays, we use sanitisers a lot; alcohol is the main constituent of these sanitisers. Ethanol is widely used in making alcoholic beverages. On the other hand, ethanoic acid is used to make vinegar which is its aqueous solution. Vinegar is also used as a preservative in pickles. Ethanoic acid is used in dyes, paints and coating additives, etc.

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