Class 10 Science


Carbon and Its Compounds Ethanol and Ethanoic Acid

These notes are based on the chapter Carbon and its Compounds from class 10 science of NCERT book and CBSE syllabus.

Ethanol (C2H5OH)

Chemical Properties of Ethanol

Reaction of ethanol with sodium metal:

When ethanol reacts with sodium, it gives sodium ethoxide and hydrogen gas.

2CH3CH2OH + 2Na ⇨ 2CH3CH2ONa + H2

Oxidation of ethanol: Ethanol gives ethanoic acid on oxidation.

CH3CH2OH + (Alkaline KMnO4/Acidified K2Cr2O7) ⇨ CH3COOH

Dehydration of ethanol: Ethanol gives ethene and water when it is heated with concentrated sulphuric acid.

CH3CH2OH + Conc. H2SO4 ⇨ CH2=CH2 + H2O

Ethanoic Acid (CH3COOH)

Structural formula of ethanoic acid is as follows:

structural formula ethanoic acid

Chemical Properties of Ethanoic Acid

Reaction of ethanoic acid with base: Ethanoic acid gives sodium acetate when it reacts with sodium hydroxide.

CH3COOH + NaOH ⇨ CH3COONa + H2O

Esterificaiton of ethanoic acid: Ethanoic acid gives ethyl acetate when it reacts with ethanol in presence of conc. sulphuric acid. This reaction is called esterification reaction.

CH3COOH + C2H5OH ⇨ CH3COOC2H5 + H2O

The IUPAC name of Ethyl acetate is Ethyl Ethanoate. Ethyl acetate is also known as ester. Ester is a sweet smelling compound. It is used in making perfumes and as a flavouring agent. When ethyl ethanoate reacts with a base or acid, it gives back ethanol and ethanoic acid.

CH3COOC2H5 + NaOH ⇨ CH3COOH + C2H5OH

Hydrolysis of ester (Ethyl ethanoate): Ethyl ethanoate gives parent alcohol and sodium ethanoate when heated with sodium hydroxide solution.

CH3COOC2H5 + NaOH ⇨ CH3COONa + C2H5OH

Saponification: Ester of higher fatty acids gives sodium salt of higher fatty acid; when heated with glycerol and sodium hydroxide. Sodium salts of higher fatty acid are known as soaps. This reaction is called saponification (soap making).

Reaction of ethanoic acid with sodium carbonate and sodium bicarbonate:

Ethanoic acid gives sodium acetate, water and carbon dioxide when reacts with sodium carbonate or sodium bicarbonate (sodium hydrogen carbonate).

2CH3COOH + Na2CO3 ⇨ 2CH3COONa + CO2 + H2O

CH3COOH + NaHCO3 ⇨ CH3COONa + CO2 + H2O