Which two of the following compounds: ethanol, phenol, ethanoic acid and benzoic acid react with sodium carbonate?
This questions tests whether you appreciate that the order of acid strength for -OH compounds is: carboxylic acid > phenol > alcohol. Only carboxylic acids (ethanoic and benzoic acids) are strong enough to react with sodium carbon dioxide to produce carbon dioxide. In water phenol is a very,v very weak acid and alcohols are not acids at all. Risk assessment Before attempting any practical work based on the advice and suggestions on this website, you must do the following. Identify any hazards, assess the risks from these hazards, and then decide appropriate control measures to reduce the risks. You must have these approved by those in authority in your school or college laboratory. Do not rely on what is said on this website. For further guidance see our tutorial on Risk Assessment.
