Question

Formula of acetic acid is :
A. \[HCOOH\]
B. \[C{{H}_{3}}C{{H}_{2}}COOH\]
C. \[C{{H}_{3}}COOH\]
D. \[{{C}_{3}}{{H}_{7}}COOH\]

Answer 1

Hint: The acetic acid is a weak acid . The other name for acetic acid is ethanoic acid. The acetic acid tends to contain the carboxylic acid with a methyl group attached to it. The other name or the common name of acetic acetic is vinegar which is also used in food.

Complete answer:
We need to identify the formula of acetic acid in the given question. As the name tells us, it is an acid but a weak acid. As I told you that acetic acid is also known as ethanoic acid which means that it has 2 carbon atoms in its molecule. This is so because during the naming of the organic compound the ‘eth’ word is used when we have two atoms of the carbon present in the molecule and meth word is used when only one carbon atom is present in the molecule or the compound.
Now we know the formula of the carboxylic group is \[-COOH\] . so the ethanoic acid formula will contain the carboxylic group and one methyl group which together will contain two atoms of carbon in it. So the formula of acetic or ethanoic acid is \[C{{H}_{3}}COOH\].
Now in option a we have only one carbon atom that means it is a methanoic acid. In option b we have three atoms of carbons means it is a propanoic acid. In option (C) there are 2 carbon atoms meaning it is an ethanoic acid. In option d we have 4 atoms of carbon.

So the correct option is option (C).

Note: We can prepare acetic acid by reacting the methanol with carbon monoxide in which the rhodium iodide is used as the catalyst. The term glacial acetic acid is used for a pure acetic acid. This glacial acetic acid is a corrosive acid which is miscible in water.