1. Esterification
- Ethanoic acid reacts with alkanols (alcohols) in the presence of concentrated H₂SO₄ as a catalyst at about 150°C.
- This produces esters such as ethyl ethanoate.
- The reaction is reversible.
2. Reduction Reaction
- Strong reducing agents like lithium tetrahydridoaluminate (III) reduce ethanoic acid to ethanol and water.
3. Acidic Properties
Although ethanoic acid is a weak acid, it exhibits typical acid reactions:
- With metals (Mg, Ca): Produces salts and liberates hydrogen gas.
- With carbonates and hydrogencarbonates: Produces carbon dioxide gas.
- Neutralisation with bases/alkalis: Produces salts (alkanoates) and water.
4. Decarboxylation
- Heating a mixture of sodium ethanoate and soda lime strongly removes one molecule of CO₂.
- The products are methane gas and carbon dioxide.
- Same products are obtained if sodium ethanoate is used instead of acetic acid.
5. Chlorination
- Glacial ethanoic acid reacts vigorously with phosphorus(V) chloride to form ethanoyl chloride (acyl chloride), a colourless liquid that fumes in air.
- Reaction with phosphorus(III) chloride also produces ethanoyl chloride, but less vigorously.
6. Formation of Chloroalkanoic Acids
- When chlorine gas is bubbled into ethanoic acid in the presence of sunlight, iodine, or red phosphorus (as a catalyst), substitution occurs at the methyl group.
- Product: Monochloroethanoic acid.
- With excess chlorine, further substitution produces dichloroethanoic acid and trichloroethanoic acid.
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