1.

How can you distinguish between (1) formic acid and acetic acid (2) phenol and Benzoic acid.

Answer»

(1) Formic Acid vs Acetic Acid 

Both formic acid and acetic acid are organic molecules that can be categorized as carboxylic acids due to the presence of a carboxyl group. Therefore, both compounds are acidic compounds. However, in aqueous solutions, these are weak acids that are partially dissociated into their conjugated base form by releasing a proton. The main difference between formic acid and acetic acid is that formic acid is composed of a carboxyl group attached to a hydrogen atom whereas acetic acid is composed of a methyl group attached to a carboxyl group.

(2) Phenol vs Benzoic Acid 

Phenol and benzoic acid are organic compounds. Both are aromatic compounds. An aromatic compound is a substance that is composed of a planar ring system with delocalized pi electron clouds. Phenol is the simplest aromatic alcohol. It is considered as a toxic compound. Benzoic acid is the simplest aromatic carboxylic acid. It is not considered as a toxic compound. Both these compounds are composed of a substituted benzene ring. The main difference between phenol and benzoic acid is that phenol is an alcohol whereas benzoic acid is a carboxylic acid.



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