Question
Give a chemical test to distinguish between acetone and acetic acid.
Solution
Acetone will not react with sodium carbonate, whereas acetic acid react with sodium carbonate with effervesce of carbon dioxide.
2CH3COOH +Na2CO3 ----> 2CH3COONa + CO2 +H2O
CH3COCH3 +Na2CO3 ----> no reaction
2CH3COOH +Na2CO3 ----> 2CH3COONa + CO2 +H2O
CH3COCH3 +Na2CO3 ----> no reaction