Acetic Acid: Vinegar Chemistry
Test acidity and ester formation
What this lesson covers
Why it matters
Vinegar smells sharp, but mix it with baking soda and the kitchen erupts in fizz. This isn't magic; it's a weak acid meeting a hydrogen carbonate (bicarbonate).
The idea in plain words
Match the reactants to the products: identify the gas that turns limewater milky.
Predict first
What happens when acetic acid reacts with sodium bicarbonate?
The acid reacts with the bicarbonate to produce salt, water, and carbon dioxide gas, which causes the fizzing.
- A white precipitate forms immediately
- Effervescence occurs due to CO₂ release — correct
- Hydrogen gas is released, popping with a lit splint
- No visible change occurs
What you do
Add sodium bicarbonate to the acetic acid. Observe the gas evolution and test it with limewater.
Check yourself
Which gas is evolved in the reaction between acetic acid and sodium bicarbonate?
The reaction CH₃COOH + NaHCO₃ → CH₃COONa + H₂O + CO₂ produces carbon dioxide.
How do you confirm the presence of the gas evolved?
Carbon dioxide turns limewater milky due to the formation of calcium carbonate.
What is the other product formed besides the salt and water?
The balanced equation shows CO₂ is released alongside CH₃COONa and H₂O.
- Oxygen
- Carbon dioxide — correct
- Hydrogen
- Nitrogen
- It burns with a pop sound
- It turns limewater milky — correct
- It relights a glowing splint
- It turns red litmus blue
- Sodium acetate
- Carbon dioxide — correct
- Methane
- Ethanol