Carboxylic acids and related compounds
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How do you distinguish between an ester and carboxylic acid using a chemical wet test. What reaction conditions would this reaction need?
Esters are not miscible with water but simple carboxylic acids are (eg ethanoic acid).
Shaking an ester with water does not change the pH. Acids lower the pH when they dissolve and the solution is acid enough to produce carbon dioxide with sodium hydrogencarbonate.
Risk assessment
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updated: 08 November 2006
