Question

What is observed when a pinch of sodium hydrogen carbonate is added to \[2\] ml of acetic acid taken in a test tube? Write a chemical equation for the reaction involved in this case.

Answer 1

Hint: Sodium hydrogen carbonate is a base with molecular formula \[NaHC{O_3}\]and acetic acid is a weak acid with molecular formula \[C{H_3}COOH\]. When an acid and base are mixed, it leads to the formation of a salt along with water and liberation of carbon dioxide gas.

Complete answer:
Chemical compounds are classified into three types based on their nature. They are acidic, basic and neutral compounds. The mixing of an acid with a base liberates salt along with water and the liberation of a colourless, odourless gas called carbon dioxide.
Sodium hydrogen carbonate is a base with molecular formula \[NaHC{O_3}\]and acetic acid is a weak acid with molecular formula \[C{H_3}COOH\]. When these two compounds are mixed, sodium acetate with a molecular formula of \[C{H_3}COONa\], water \[\left( {{H_2}O} \right)\], along with the liberation of carbon dioxide gas \[\left( {C{O_2}} \right)\] were formed.
Thus, when a pinch of sodium hydrogen carbonate is added to \[2\] ml of acetic acid taken in a test tube sodium acetate, water and carbon dioxide gas are formed.
The chemical reaction involved in this case will be as follows:
\[C{H_3}COOH + NaHC{O_3} \to C{H_3}COONa + {H_2}O + C{O_2}\]

Note:
The treatment of sodium hydrogen carbonate to the acetic acid can also be one of the identification tests of carboxylic acids. As if the acid is present in the unknown compound the addition of sodium hydrogen carbonate the effervescences of carbon dioxide will be observed which can turn lime water milky.