OBJECTIVES

To investigate and observe the following properties of acetic acid:

• Odor: Examine the characteristic smell of acetic acid.

• Solubility in water: Determine the extent to which acetic acid dissolves in water.
• Effect on litmus: Observe the color changes of litmus paper when exposed to acetic acid.
• Reaction with sodium bicarbonate: Investigate the chemical reaction between acetic acid
and sodium bicarbonate, and identify the products formed.
DATA ANALYSIS AND DISCUSSION

EXPERIMENT OBSERVATION INFERENCE

Observation and a Acetic acid is a clear, colorless

simple whiff demonstrate that organic liquid with a pungent odor
acetic acid, or ethanoic acid, resembling vinegar. Vinegar is typically
has a strong pungent and sour a clear solution containing
smell. Even in its purest state, approximately 5% acetic acid and 95%
it is a colorless liquid with a water. Vinegar is a mixture of acids, one
strong acidic flavor and an of which is acetic acid.
ODOUR unpleasant odor. Ethanoic A recurring issue with acetic acid
acid has a vinegar-like odor. is its glue-like or solvent-like odor,
Vinegar, which is naturally which is attributed to the presence of
derived from fermentable ethyl acetate, a naturally occurring
materials such as wine, impurity in vinegar. The esterification of
potatoes, apples, grapes, acetic acid and ethanol, both of which
berries, and grains, is one of are present in vinegar produced by
the most common ways in fermentation, produces ethyl acetate.
which consumers may come According to the Virginia Department of
into contact with acetic acid. Health (VDH), acetic acid is a byproduct
At a concentration of 99.5%, of fermentation that gives vinegar its
acetic acid is referred to as distinctive odor. Vinegar contains
glacial acetic acid. Glacial between 4% to 6% acetic acid. Eight
acetic acid can cause hours of exposure to acetic acid vapors
occupational exposure via at 10 parts per million (ppm) may cause
inhalation, skin contact, and irritation of the eyes, nose, and throat.
ocular contact. Acetic acid is People with respiratory disorders such
harmful to the eyes and skin.
 as asthma may be more susceptible to
acetic acid's effects when inhaled.
In its purest form, acetic acid
(sometimes called ethanoic acid) is a
clear liquid with a sharp, sour smell
reminiscent of vinegar. Since skin and
eye irritation can occur even in relatively
highly diluted acid solutions, it is best to
avoid exposure to acetic acid at
concentrations above those in
commercial products and preparations.

When water is Acetic acid, an organic

added to a highly concentrated compound with the general formula
acid, an intense reaction CH3COOH, is essentially a carboxylic
occurs, resulting in the acid featuring a methyl group attached to
production of a highly a carboxyl functional group. Its IUPAC
concentrated solution. This name is ethanoic acid, and its molecular
SOLIBILITY IN WATER reaction can cause the solution formula is C2H4O2. This compound is
to boil vigorously, potentially primarily produced industrially through
spattering concentrated acid. the carbonylation of methanol. In this
Conversely, when acid is process, methanol reacts with a solution
added to water, the resulting of hydrogen iodide to form methyl
solution is significantly iodide, which then further reacts with
diluted, and the minimal carbon monoxide to create acetyl iodide.
amount of heat generated is Finally, acetyl iodide is treated with
not enough to cause water to yield acetic acid. The reactions
evaporation or spattering. In are as follows:
the case of acetic acid, when
equal volumes of water and
 acetic acid are combined, a CH3OH + HI → CH3I + H2O
transparent, colorless solution CH3I + CO → CH3COI CH3COI +
is produced. This H2O → CH3COOH
homogeneous mixture is In its liquid state, acetic acid
indicative of the solubility of is a polar and protic solvent that readily
acetic acid in water, as the two dissolves in water due to the formation
substances blend together of hydrogen bonds. The solubility
uniformly without any visible behavior of acetic acid in water is
separation. comparable to that of ethanol and water
mixtures. Additionally, acetic acid is
miscible with hexane, chloroform, and
several oils, but not with long-chain
alkanes. This solubility in various
solvents can be attributed to the
hydrogen bonding capacity of acetic
acid.

Lime water is a saturated

Upon
solution of calcium hydroxide in water.
application of just a tiny
Calcium hydroxide is a potent base that
EFFECT IN LITMUS amount of lime juice onto the
dissociates into hydroxide ions when
litmus paper, the blue-hued
dissolved in water. Lime water's high
paper undergoes a discernible
concentration of hydroxide ions renders
alteration to a red color,
it an alkaline solution capable of
signifying the presence of
reacting with acids and turning litmus
acidity within the pH
paper crimson.When blue litmus paper
spectrum of 4.5 to 8.3. The
is plunged into lime water, the hydroxide
reaction between blue litmus
ions in the lime water react with the
paper and lime water is a
litmus dye, causing the litmus dye to
result of the substances'
lose hydrogen ions and change color
chemical properties. Litmus
from blue to red. The hydroxide ions in
paper contains a natural dye
formed by certain lichens the lime water operate as a base to
called litmus. Litmus is a mild neutralize the acid in the litmus dye,
acid that reacts with hydrogen causing a change in the color of the
ions in acidic solutions and litmus paper.
hydroxide ions in basic
The reaction between
solutions. In acidic solutions,
blue litmus paper and lime water has
litmus acquires hydrogen
several inferences. Firstly, it indicates
ions, causing it to turn
that lime water is a strong base. The high
crimson, whereas in basic
concentration of hydroxide ions in lime
solutions, it loses hydrogen
water makes it a highly alkaline solution
ions and stays blue.
that can neutralize acids. This property
of lime water makes it useful in various
applications, such as in agriculture to
neutralize acidic soils and in wastewater
treatment to neutralize acidic effluents.
Secondly, the reaction between blue
litmus paper and lime water
demonstrates the usefulness of litmus
paper as a simple and inexpensive pH
indicator. Litmus paper is widely used in
laboratories and industries to test the
acidity or basicity of substances. Its
simplicity and ease of use make it a
popular choice for quick and routine
testing of solutions.

The reaction of acetic Acetic acid (ethanoic acid) reacts

acid with sodium bicarbonate with sodium bicarbonate and lime water,
was dramatic since the several reactions occurred depending on
 moment the acetic acid was the quantities of the reactants, as well as
poured inside the test tube the conditions of the reaction.
containing sodium One reaction was;
bicarbonate and lime water, it CH3COOH + NaHCO3 → CH3COONa
quickly rises up producing a + CO2 + H2O
lot of bubble. The reaction This is a typical acid-base
produces carbon dioxide gas reaction where acetic acid, a weak acid,
bubbles causing the mixture to reacts with sodium bicarbonate, a weak
REACTION WITH turn milky and cloudy. The base, to form sodium acetate, carbon
SODIUM mixture also became milky or dioxide gas, and water. The carbon
BICARBONATE high in viscosity resisting easy dioxide gas produced during the reaction
flow. In addition, after was also tested using lime water, which
multiple trials, one trial was to turns the mixture milky and cloudy. This
cover up the test tube with a is because the mixture created by mixing
rubber cork to see how the the carbon dioxide present in the lime
mixture would react in a close water was calcium carbonate (CaCO3),
space but the pressure was too a mixture that is insoluble and is the
strong that a force of a human reason for the water to be cloudy.
finger simply won’t handle CO2 + Ca(OH)2 → CaCO3 (s) + H2O
the pressure given off by the The reaction between carbon
mixture. dioxide and lime water produces
calcium carbonate, which is a white
precipitate that causes the solution to
turn milky. In addition, when acetic acid
reacts with sodium bicarbonate and lime
water, there was bubbling due to the
production of carbon dioxide gas and a
milky appearance in the lime water due
to the formation of calcium carbonate.