Practicals of Chemistry Class-10

(TERM-1)
EXPERIMENT 1(a)

Aim: To perform and observe:

(i) the action of water on quicklime,
(ii) action of heat on ferrous sulphate crystals,
(iii) reaction of iron nails kept in copper sulphate solution,
(iv) reaction between sodium sulphate and barium chloride solutions and classify the
reaction.

Materials Required: Calcium oxide (quicklime), distilled water, borosil beaker, test
tube, glass rod, dropper, red and blue litmus paper strips.

Theory: When calcium oxide (quicklime) is dissolved in water, it forms calcium

hydroxide (slaked lime). The reaction is highly exothermic, i.e. a lot of heat is
produced during the reaction.
This reaction may be represented in the form of a chemical reaction as follows:

Note: Calcium hydroxide is basic in nature.

Therefore, it turns moist red litmus paper blue. If we pass CO2 through clear calcium
hydroxide solution (lime water), it turns milky due to the formation of a white
precipitate (insoluble calcium carbonate).

Procedure:
1. Take a small amount of quicklime in a borosil beaker or hard glass beaker.
Slowly add water to it as shown in Fig. 1 (a).
2. Stir it well with a clean glass rod as shown in Fig. 1(b).

3. Observe what happens. Touch the beaker carefully.

4. Classify the reaction.
5. Using a clean dropper, take a few drops of the solution formed in the beaker
and place them on red and blue litmus paper strip (as shown in Fig. 2). Make
your observation.

Observation: The hissing sound is produced and solution becomes hot. The heat is
evolved during the reaction which raises the temperature of the reaction mixture. On
putting a few drops of the solution on red and blue litmus paper, it is observed that
only red litmus paper turns blue, no changes occur in blue litmus paper.
Inference: In this reaction, quicklime (CaO) and water (H2O) combine to give a
single product slaked lime [Ca(OH)2 ].
CaO(s) + H2O (l) ——–> Ca(OH)2 (aq) + Heat
It is a combination reaction and calcium hydroxide [Ca(OH)2 ] is basic in nature.
As heat is evolved, the reaction is exothermic.

Result: The reaction between quicklime and water to form slaked lime is a
combination reaction as well as exothermic reaction.
Precautions:
1. Always take small amount of quicklime.
2. The reaction is highly exothermic, so do not touch the reaction mixture
directly.
3. Water is added slowly to a beaker containing quicklime.

EXPERIMENT 1(b)

Aim: Action of heat on ferrous sulphate crystals

Materials Required: Ferrous sulphate crystals (2g), boiling tube, test tube holder,
safety glass (goggle), Bunsen burner, blue and red litmus paper strips.
Theory:The ferrous sulphate crystals are actually ferrous sulphate heptahydrate
(FeSO4.7H2O). They contain seven molecules of water of crystallisation. These
crystals are green in colour.
Heating of Ferrous Sulphate Crystals
When the green coloured ferrous sulphate heptahydrate crystals (FeSO4.7H2O) are
heated, they first lose seven molecules of water of crystallisation to form anhydrous
ferrous sulphate(FeSO4) which is white in colour.
When this anhydrous ferrous sulphate is heated, it decomposes to give ferric oxide,
sulphur dioxide and sulphur trioxide.
The reactions may be represented as:

In this reaction, one substance FeSO4(s) is splitting up into three substances

Fe2O3(s), SO2(g), SO3(g) because it takes place due to heat.
So, this is a decomposition reaction. It is actually a thermal decomposition reaction.
On combining Eqs. (i) and (ii), we can write the reaction as:

Procedure
1. Take about 2g ferrous sulphate crystals in a boiling tube.
2. Note the colour of ferrous sulphate crystals.
3. Hold the boiling tube in a test tube holder.
4. Heat the boiling tube (as shown in Fig. 1) and observe the odour of gases
evolved and colour of residue formed.
5. Steamy fumes are given out which condense to form tiny droplets of a
colourless liquid at the neck of boiling tube. Test the nature of these droplets
with the help of blue and red litmus paper.
 6. Smell if any gas evolved by turning it gently towards your nose with a blow of
your hand.
7. Bring a wet blue and red litmus paper near the mouth of the boiling tube (as
shown in Fig. 3) and observe the change.
8. Classify the reaction.

Diagrams:

Observation
1. The green colour of ferrous sulphate crystals first changes to white and then a
brown solid is formed (which is ferric oxide, Fe2O3).
2. Both red and blue litmus paper do not show any change in colour with tiny
droplets, formed at the neck of boiling tube.
3. Gas having the smell of burning sulphur comes out of the boiling tube.
4. Moist blue litmus paper turns red when it comes in contact with evolved gas.
Inference
 When ferrous sulphate is heated strongly, it decomposes to form ferric oxide,
sulphur dioxide and sulphur trioxide, so this is a decomposition reaction.
 The tiny droplets, formed near the cooler parts of the boiling test tube are of
water. That’s why, it is neutral to red and blue litmus paper.
 Oxides of sulphur (SO2 and SO3) turns blue litmus paper red. Therefore,
gases have acidic nature.
 The decomposition of ferrous sulphate is carried out by heating, so it is
called thermal decomposition reaction.

Result: Heating of ferrous sulphate crystals is a decomposition reaction and it

decomposes to give ferric oxide (Fe2O3), sulphur dioxide (SO2) and sulphur trioxide
(SO3).
Precautions:
 Keep the mouth of the boiling tube away from yourself and your neighbour.
 Smell the gas by turning it gently towards your nose with a blow of your hand
and not by bringing the mount of boiling tube under your nose.
 While heating FeSO4.7H2O crystals, use a hard glass test tube (boiling tube)
which is perfectly dry.
 Keep the fumes of SO2 and SO3 gases away from your eyes as this may
cause irritation to the eyes
 EXPERIMENT 1(c)
Aim: Reaction of iron nails kept in copper sulphate solution
Materials Required:Two test tubes, two iron nails, beaker, measuring cylinder, a
piece of sand paper, distilled water, copper sulphate solution, thread, laboratory
stand with clamp, test tube stand.
Theory: According to the reactivity series, a more reactive metal displaces a less
reactive metal from its salt solution. Iron is placed above copper in the activity series.
Elements placed above in this series are more reactive than those placed below
them.
Thus, iron is more reactive than copper. When iron nails are placed in blue coloured
copper sulphate solution, iron displaces copper from CuSO4 solution to form ferrous
sulphate FeSO4, while the grey coloured iron nails gets covered by a brownish-red
deposit of copper metal.

Procedure
1. Take two iron nails and clean them with a sand paper.
2. Take 20 ml of distilled water in a clean test tube and dissolve copper sulphate
crystals in it. Label this test tube as A.
3. Transfer about 10 mL of copper sulphate solution from test tube A to another
clean test tube. Label this test tube as B.
4. Take one iron nail tied with a thread and immerse it carefully in copper
sulphate solution in test tube A for about 15 min [as shown in Fig. 1]. Keep
the another iron nail separately for comparison afterwards.
5. After 15 minutes, take out the iron nail from the copper sulphate solution.
6. Compare the intensity of blue colour of copper sulphate solution before and
after the experiments in test tubes A and B and also compare the colour of
iron nail dipped in copper sulphate solution with the one kept separately [Fig.
2], Record your observations.

Result: The initial colour of copper sulphate solution in the test tube is blue and iron
nails are silvery grey. After being dipped in copper sulphate solution for about 15 min,
the blue colour of copper sulphate solution turns light green and the surface of iron
nails get covered with brownish red coating.
It is a displacement reaction as iron displaces copper from the copper sulphate
solution to form copper and ferrous sulphate.
Fe (s) + CuSO4 (aq) ———> FeSO4 (aq) + Cu (s)

Diagram:
Precautions
 The iron nails must be cleaned properly by using sand paper before dipping
them in copper sulphate solution.
 Prepare a dilute copper sulphate solution in distilled water. If it is a
concentrated solution, then it may not be possible to see the change in its
colour after the experiment.

EXPERIMENT 1(d)
AIM: Reaction between sodium sulphate and barium chloride solutions and
classify the reaction.

Materials Required:Two test tubes, test tube stand, a conical flask, a glass rod,
sodium sulphate solution, measuring cylinder and barium chloride solution.

Theory: Those reactions in which two ionic compounds in the solution react by
exchange of their ions to form new compounds are called double displacement
reactions. When a solution of sodium sulphate is mixed with a solution of barium
chloride, the following double displacement reaction takes place:

Procedure
1. Take two clean test tubes and label them as A and B.
2. In test tube A, take the solution of barium chloride (5 ml.) and observe the
colour of the solution.
3. In test tube B, take the solution of sodium sulphate (5 ml) and observe the
colour of the solution (as shown in Fig.1).
4. Transfer carefully the solutions of test tubes A and B in a conical flask (as
shown in Fig. 2).
5. Stir the two solutions by using glass rod and leave it undisturbed for some
time.
6. Observe the change in colour of the solutions as per the steps given in
observation table.
Observation Table:

S.No. Experiment Observations

Observe the colours of both solutions in test

tubes A and B before mixing them. Mix both
1.
the solutions and leave the mixture
undisturbed for some time

Does anything precipitates in the test tube? if

2.
so, what is the colour of it?
Result: Solutions of sodium sulphate and barium chloride both are colourless. On
mixing the solution of sodium sulphate and barium chloride, a white precipitate is
formed. This reaction is an example of a double displacement reaction, since two
different salt solutions have exchanged ions to form two new salts, i.e. barium
sulphate (white ppt) and sodium chloride.

Precautions
 Test tubes, beaker and glass rod should be cleaned.
 Equal volume of sodium sulphate and barium chloride should be used.
 Add barium chloride solution very slowly to the sodium sulphate solution and
stir with a glass rod.
 Do not touch or taste the chemicals.

Experiment -2
Aim: To study the properties of acids (dil. HCl) and bases (dil. NaOH) by their
reaction with
 Litmus solution (blue/red)
 Zinc metal
 Solid sodium carbonate
Materials Required: Test tubes, test tube stand, test tube holder, cork, droppers,
boiling tube, match-box, burner, flat bottom flask, thistle funnel, beaker, litmus
solution/paper (red and blue), glass rod, zinc granules, freshly prepared lime water,
solid sodium carbonate and dil. HCl.
Theory
Acid
An acid is a substance which furnishes H+ ions when it is dissolved in water like HCl.
Acids turn blue litmus red and do not affect red litmus. On reacting with zinc metal,
HCl forms a salt, zinc chloride (ZnCl2) and hydrogen gas (H2) is liberated.

Hydrogen gas burns in air with a blue flame and produces a pop sound.

.
HCl reacts with sodium carbonate (aqueous/solid) to liberate carbon dioxide (CO2 )
which turns lime water milky due to the formation of calcium carbonate. When
excess of CO2 is passed through the solution, the milkiness disappears.

Procedure:
1. Litmus Test
1. Take two test tubes and mark them A and B and put them in a test
tube stand. In test tube A take 5 ml of blue litmus solution and in B,
take 5mL of red litmus solution (as shown in Fig.1).
2. Using a dropper, add few drops of HCl in each test tube. Stir each
tube with separate glass rods B. Note, if there is any colour change
occurs in the solutions.
Observation: In test tube A, blue litmus turns red and nothing
happens to red litmus. Hence, it can be concluded that acids (like HCl)
turns blue litmus to red.
2. Reaction with Zinc (Zn) Metal
1. Take few zinc granules in a clean and dry test tube.
2. Add HCl to the test tube containing zinc granules, such that zinc
granules are totally submerged in the acid.
3. Place a cork having glass delivery tube.
4. A vigorous reaction will take place after 2-3 minutes, with the
evolution of a colourless, odourless gas.
5. On bringing a burning match-stick near the mouth of gas tube, the
gas burns with a pale blue flame producing pop sound (as shown in
Fig. 2).
Reaction 2HCl(aq) + Zn(s) ——> ZnCl2 (aq) + H2↑
Observation : Acids (like HCl) liberate hydrogen (H2) gas on reacting with active
metals like zinc (Zn) which burn with a pop sound when burning splinter brought
near to it.
3.Reaction with Solid Sodium Carbonate (Na2CO3)
1. Take a small amount of solid sodium carbonate in a flat bottom flask
and some distilled water in it, shake it well.
2. Take a double bore cork with a thistle funnel and a delivery tube fitted
in it, fit it on the open end of the flask.
3. Now add HCl in the flask through thistle tube.
4. Reaction taken place with the evolution of colourless and odourless
gas. Then gas is passed through freshly prepared lime water with the
help of delivery tube (as shown in Fig. 3).
5. The lime water turns milky.
 Reaction: Na2CO3(aq) + 2HCl(aq) ——–> 2NaCl(aq)+ CO2 ↑ + H2O(l)
Ca(OH)2 (aq) + CO2 ↑ ——–> CaCO3(s) + H2O (l)
CaCO3 (s) + H2O(l) + CO2 (g) ——–> Ca(HCO3)2 (aq)

Observation HCl on reacting with sodium carbonate (Na2CO3) liberates carbon

dioxide (CO2) gas which turns lime water milky. On passing the gas in excess of
lime water, the milkiness disappears.
Observation Table:

S.No. Experiment Observation Inference

Litmus test
Add few drops of dil. HCl to test
Blue litmus solution HCl has…….character.
tube A containing blue litmus
1. turns ………….. in HCl…….. affect red
solution. Add few drops of dil.
colour. litmus solution.
HCl to test tube B containing
red litmus solution.

Reaction with Zn metal Zn reacts with dil. HCl

On adding dil. HCl to Zn metal ……. gas evolves. and liberates ……..
2. and warming the contents. A pop sound is gas.
On bringing a burning match- obtained. Zn (s) + 2HCl(aq)
stick near the jet. —->ZnCl2 + …

A colourless,
odourless gas is
……. gas is liberated
evolved which
on the reaction
Reaction with Na2CO3 turns lime water
between dll. HCl and
3. Add a few drops of dil. HCI to milky. On passing
Na2CO3.
Na2CO3. the gas in excess
2HCI + Na2CO3 ——–>
in lime water, the
2NaCl +……… + H2O
milkiness
disappears.
Result/Conclusion
1. Hydrochloric acid turns blue litmus solution/paper to red but it does not affect
red litmus solution/paper.
2. It reacts with zinc metal to liberate hydrogen gas and also forms zinc chloride
as a product.
3. It reacts with sodium carbonate to liberate carbon dioxide.
Hence, we conclude that hydrochloric acid is acidic in nature.
Precautions:
1. As HCl is corrosive in nature, it should be handled with care.
2. Use small quantities of Zn and HCl, otherwise large amounts of H2 will be
formed which may cause explosion.
3. Use clean zinc metal, otherwise the reaction will occur very slowly.
 4. Observe the milkiness in the lime water soon.
5. In case you allow carbon dioxide to pass for a long time through lime water,
the milkiness may be removed due to the formation of soluble calcium
bicarbonate as depicted in the reaction as follows:
CaCO3(s)+ CO2(g)+ H2O(l) ———> Ca(HCO3)2(aq).

EXPERIMENT 2(b)
Materials Required
Test tubes, test tube stand, test tube holder, litmus solution/paper strips (red and
blue), dil. NaOH, solid sodium carbonate, zinc granules, Bunsen burner, distilled
water, match-box, thistle funnel, flat bottom flask, delivery tube, cork, glass rods and
freshly prepared lime water.
Theory
Base
A base is a substance which furnishes OH– ions when it is dissolved in water.
Sodium hydroxide (NaOH) is a strong base. Its pH is much higher than 7.
So, it turns red litmus into blue and do not affect the blue litmus.
On reacting with Zn metal, it forms a salt (sodium zincate) and hydrogen gas (H2) is
liberated.

Procedure
1. Litmus Test
1. Take two test tubes and mark them A and B. Take 3 mLof blue litmus
in test tube A and 3 mL of red litmus in test tube B and put them in a
test tube stand (as shown in Fig. 1).
2. Using a dropper, add few drops of NaOH in each. Note, if there is any
colour change in the solutions in the test tubes.
Observation Red litmus in test tube B turns into blue while there is no
change in blue litmus present in test tube A. Hence, it can be
concluded that base like NaOH turns red litmus to blue.
2. Reaction with Zinc (Zn) Metal
1. Take few zinc granules in a clean and dry test tube,
2. Add NaOH to the test tube containing zinc granules, such that zinc
granules are totally submerged in the acid.
3. Place a cork having glass delivery tube and heat the test tube.
4. A vigorous reaction will take place after 2-3 minutes with the
evolution of a colourless, odourless gas.
5. On bringing a burning match-stick near the mouth of gas tube, the
gas burns with a pale blue flame producing pop sound (as shown in
Fig. 2).
Reaction: 2NaOH(aq) + Zn(s) ——> Na2ZnO2 (s) + H2↑
Observation: Base like NaOH liberates H2 gas on reacting with active metals like
Zn which burns with pop sound when burning splinter brought near to it.

3. Reaction with Solid Sodium Carbonate (Na2CO3)

 Take a small amount of Na2CO3 in a test tube.
 Add some drops of dil. NaOH solution in the test tube containing Na2CO3.
  No reaction takes place.

Observation Table:

S.
Experiment Observation Inference
No.

Litmus test
Add few drops of dil. NaOH to Red litmus turns….. NaOH
test tube A containing blue has……character.
1. litmus solution.
Add few drops of dil. NaOH to …….in colour of blue It ………. affect blue
another test tube B containing litmus. litmus.
red litmus solution.

Reaction with Zn metal

 Add dil. NaOH to Zn Zn reacts with dil.
 ……….gas
metal granules and NaOH and
evolves.
2. warm the reaction liberates………gas.
 A pop sound is
mixture. Zn(s) + 2NaOH(aq) —
obtained.
 Bring a lighted > Na2ZnO2(s)+..↑
matchstick near the jet.

Reaction with Na2CO3

……change is NaOH and
3. Add a few drops of dil. NaOH
observed. Na2CO3 do not react.
to Na2CO3.

Result/Conclusion
1. Sodium hydroxide turns red litmus solution/paper blue but it does not affect
blue litmus solution/paper.
2. It reacts with zinc metal and liberates hydrogen gas. During this reaction,
sodium zincate is also formed.
 3. It does not react with sodium carbonate.
Hence, we conclude that sodium hydroxide (NaOH) is basic in nature.
Precautions
1. Sodium hydroxide should be handled with care because it is highly corrosive
in nature. Do not heat mixture of zinc and dilute NaOH to boiling point.
2. Small quantity of chemicals should be used to perform the experiment to get
best results. Test tubes and droppers should be washed well with distilled
water before use.
3. Do not interchange droppers while testing with acids/alkalis/indicators.
4. Hands must be cleaned properly after completing the experiment.

EXPERIMENT 3
AIM: To find the pH of the following samples by using pH paper/universal indicator
 Dilute hydrochloric acid (HCl)
 Dilute sodium hydroxide (NaOH) solution ?
 Dilute ethanoic acid (CH3COOH) solution
 Lemon juice
 Water (H2O)
 Dilute sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3) solution
MATERIALS REQUIRED: Six test tubes, test tube stand, glass rod, pH paper,
dropper, standard pH colour chart, universal indicator, sample of solution—dilute
HCl, dilute NaOH, dilute CH3COOH, dilute NaHCO3, water, lemon juice.
THEORY
The pH Scale: It is a scale used for measuring hydrogen ion concentration. The p in
the pH stands for potenz which means power in German. It has values 0 (very acidic)
to 14 (very alkaline). pH is a number which indicates the acidic or basic nature of a
solution (as shown in Fig. 1).
Higher the hydronium ion concentration present in the solution, lower is its pH value.
[pH means power of hydrogen ions]
 If pH > 7, solution is basic.
 If pH < 7, solution is acidic.
 If pH = 7, solution is neutral.

PROCEDURE
1. Take each sample solution in a separate test tube and label them as A, B, C,
D, E and F. Put all the test tubes one by one in a test tube stand.
2. Take a strip of pH paper and place it on cleaned and dry white surface.
3. Dip glass rod into the sample solution of test tube A (dilute HCl).
4. Put one or two drops of hydrochloric acid on the pH paper using clean glass
rod.
5. Observe the colour produced on pH paper and compare it with the different
colour shades given in the standard pH colour chart.
 6. Note down the colour produced on pH paper and pH value in the observation
table.
7. Clean the glass rod properly, before taking another sample solution.
8. Repeat the procedure from step (2) to (6) with acetic acid solution, lemon
juice, water and dil. NaHCO3 separately.
9. Observe the colour change in each sample and record pH in observation
table.
10. Decide nature of solutions of each sampie, i.e. acidic, basic or neutral with
the help of respective pH value.
OBSERVATION AND INFERENCE:

S.No Sample solution Observation Inference

. (Colour produced (Approximate pH)
on pH paper)
1 Dilute HCI
2 Dilute NaOH
3 Dilute CH3COOH
4 Lemon juice
5 Water
6 Dilute NaHCO3

RESULT/CONCLUSION:
The pH of the given samples by using pH paper are as follows:
1. pH of dilute HCl is ……………. and nature of solution is …………
2. pH of dilute NaOH is ………….. and nature of solution is ………….
3. pH of dilute CH3COOH is …………….. and nature of solution is …………..
4. pH of lemon juice is ………………. and nature of lemon juice is ……………
5. pH of water is …………….. and it is ……………..
6. pH of NaHCO3 is …………….. and nature of its solution is ………………..
PRECAUTIONS:
 Use the dilute solution of all samples and label the test tube carefully.
 Do not touch, smell or taste any of the solution directly.
 Colour developed on the pH paper should be compared carefully with that of
the chart.
 The test sample solutions should be freshly prepared and the lemon juice
samples should also be fresh.
 Glass rod used for one sample should be used for the other sample only after
washing it with water.
EXPERIMENT - 4
Aim: To observe the action of Zn, Fe, Cu and Al metals on the following salt
solutions: ZnSO4 (aq), FeSO4 (aq), CuSO4 (aq), Al2(SO4)3 (aq)
To arrange Zn, Fe, Cu and Al metals in the decreasing order of reactivity based on
the above results.

Materials Required: Aluminium foil, copper turnings, zinc granules, iron filings,
ferrous sulphate solution, copper sulphate solution, zinc sulphate solution,
aluminium sulphate solution, test tubes, test tube stand and four beakers of 50 ml.
Theory: Different metals have different reactivities towards chemical reagents.
Some metals are more reactive than others. The metals, which can lose electron
more readily to form positive ions are more reactive.
According to the reactivity series (or activity series) of metals, a more reactive metal
displaces a less reactive metal from its aqueous salt solution. These reactions are
called displacement reactions.
Displacement reactions can be used to find out the relative reactivities of metals.

S.No. Name and formula Colour

1 Zinc sulphate (ZnS04) Colourless
2 Ferrous sulphate (FeS04) Light green
3 Copper sulphate (CuS04) Blue
4 Aluminium sulphate AI2(S04)3 Colourless
5 Aluminium (Al) White
6 Iron (Fe) Blackish grey
7 Copper (Cu) Reddish brown
8 Zinc (Zn) Silvery white (greyish)

Procedure:
1. Prepare 50 ml solutions of 5% concentration (by volume) of zinc sulphate, iron(II)
sulphate, copper(II) sulphate and aluminium sulphate in distilled water in four
different beakers. Label these beakers as P, Q, R and S (as shown in Fig.1).
2. Take about 10 mL of saturated solution of zinc sulphate (ZnSO4), ferrous
sulphate (FeSO4), copper sulphate (CuSO4) and aluminium sulphate [Al2(SO4)3]
in the respective test tubes (as shown in Fig. 2). Observe the colour of the
solutions.
3. Take zinc, copper, iron and aluminium metal strips and clean their surfaces.
4. Put zinc metal strip in all the four test tubes A, B, C and D and observe the
change that follows.
5. Repeat the above experiment with other metal strips by dipping them in fresh
salt solutions of metal and observe for displacement reactions.

Observation Table:
Result
1. The action of metals on respective salt solutions are given below:
1. Al metal is able to displace Zn, Fe and Cu from their salt solutions,
therefore Al is most reactive.
2. Zn metal is able to displace Fe and Cu from their salt solutions
therefore, Zn is more reactive than Fe and Cu.
3. Fe metal is able to displace Cu from its salt solution, therefore Fe is
more reactive than copper.
4. Cu is unable to displace any metal (among Al, Fe and Zn) from their
salt solutions, therefore Cu is least reactive.
2. The decreasing order of reactivity, based on the above results, follows the
order: Al > Zn > Fe > Cu
Precautions
1. All the apparatus should be clean and dry.
2. Some reactions may occur slowly, so observe the changes carefully.
3. Do not touch or taste the chemicals.
4. Wash the test tubes after every set of observations of interaction of a
particular metal with the four salt solutions.
(TERM-2)
EXPERIMENT- 5
Aim: To study the following properties of acetic acid (ethanoic acid):
 Odour
 Solubility in water
 Effect on litmus
 Reaction with sodium bicarbonate
Materials Required: Test tubes, conical flask, delivery tube, glass rod, acetic acid,
blue and red litmus paper or solution, distilled water, sodium hydrogen carbonate
(NaHCO3), freshly prepared lime water.

Theory: An organic compound containing the carboxylic group (—COOH) is known

as carboxylic acid. Acetic acid is an organic acid with the chemical formula
CH3COOH. Its IUPAC name is ethanoic acid. Acetic acid is present in vinegar. It
turns blue litmus to red but does not affect red litmus.
Acetic acid reacts with sodium bicarbonate and gives brisk effervescence due to the
formation of CO2 gas. CO2 turns lime water milky due to the formation of insoluble
calcium carbonate and the milkiness disappears if excess of CO2 is passed through
the solution.

Procedure
1. Odour
1. Take 5 ml of acetic acid in a test tube.
2. Observe the colour and odour of given acid and note them in
observation table.
2. Solubility in Water
1. Take 2 ml of water in a test tube and add 1 mL of acetic acid in it and
shake it properly.
2. Observe the changes occur and write it in the observation table.
3. Effect on Litmus
1. Take a blue litmus paper strip and put a drop of acetic acid over it
using a clean glass rod.
2. Observe the colour change of the litmus paper and write it in the
observation table.
3. Repeat above steps with red litmus paper.
4. Reaction with Sodium Bicarbonate
 Take another clean test tube and add 2 ml of acetic acid to it.
 Add a pinch of sodium bicarbonate (hydrogen carbonate) to the test tube and
shake it properly.
 Hold a burning splinter near the mouth of the test tube.
 On the test tube, put a cork carrying a delivery tube, so that its other end dips
in a test tube containing lime water. Allow the gas evolved to pass through
lime water (Fig. 2) and write your observation in observation table.

Observation Table

S.No. Experiment Observation Inference

Odour
Smell the sample of It gives a pungent Acetic acid smells like
1.
acetic acid taken in a smell of vinegar. a vinegar.
test tube.
 Solubility test
A homogeneous Acetic acid is highly
2. Add water to a test tube
solution is formed. soluble in water.
containing acetic acid.

Effect on litmus Acetic acid is acidic in

Blue litmus paper
Put a drop of ethanoic nature.
turns red.
3. acid over a Acetic acid does not
No change in red
 blue litmus paper have the quality of
litmus paper.
 red litmus paper base.

Reaction with sodium

bicarbonate
A colourless,
Add a pinch of sodium
odourless gas is
bicarbonate to test tube CO2 gas is liberated
evolved which
containing 2 ml of on the reaction
extinguish the
acetic acid and shake between acetic acid
burning splinter
it. A gas is evolved. and sodium
and turns lime
4.  Bring a burning bicarbonate.
water milky. On
splinter near the CH3COOH
passing the gas in
mouth of the +NaHC03 —>
excess through the
test tube. CH3COONa +CO2 +
lime water, the
 Allow the gas H2O
milkiness
evolved to pass
disappears.
through lime
water.

Result
1. Acetic acid has a pungent odour of vinegar.
2. Acetic acid is completely soluble in water.
3. It turns blue litmus paper to red.
4. It evolves CO2 gas when reacts with sodium bicarbonate and sodium
carbonate.
CH3COOH+ NaHCO3 ——–> CH3COONa+ H2O + CO2
2CH3COOH + Na2CO3 ———-> 2CH3COONa+CO2 + H2O
Lime water turns milky as carbon dioxide evolved above reacts with it to form
insoluble calcium carbonate.
Ca(OH)2 + CO2 ———-> CaCO3 + H2O
Precautions
1. Ethanoic acid should be handled carefully.
2. Do not taste or touch ethanoic acid.
3. Do not taste or touch sodium bicarbonate.
4. Use small quantities of sodium bicarbonate to control the intensity of
CO2 evolved.
5. Do not inhale vapours of pure acetic acid directly.
6. Freshly prepared lime water should be used.