Question

How did Kolbe first produce Acetic Acid?
A) Carbon, Hydrogen, Oxygen
B) Nitrogen, Sulphur, Carbon
C) Carbon, Oxygen, Phosphorus
D) Carbon, Hydrogen, Nitrogen

Answer 1

Hint: Acetic acid is a weak acid with a chemical formula $C{H_3}COOH$ . The answer to the question lies in the chemical formula of the compound. The decomposition product of the compound will have only those atoms which are present in the compound already and so does the formation.

Complete answer:
In 1845 German chemist Hermann Kolbe prepared or synthesized acetic acid from inorganic components for the first time. He made carbon disulfide with chlorine and formed carbon tetrachloride as the product. Then followed by decomposition by heat to tetrachloroethylene and aqueous chlorination to trichloroacetic acid, and concluded with the electrolytic reduction to acetic acid.
The inorganic substances used by him were made of only hydrocarbons. Hence, the first time Kolbe produced Acetic acid from carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen.
Hence, option A is the correct answer.

Note:
Acetic acid is an organic compound while carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen are inorganic compounds. Kolbe’s work was historic because he produced organic compounds from inorganic one artificially. Acetic acid is produced synthetically as well as from bacterial fermentation. In nature it is found in ants and some fruits.