Question:

Give a simple chemical test to distinguish between benzoic acid and ethyl benzoate.

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Benzoic acid (C 6 H 5 COOH) is a carboxylic acid, so it is acidic enough to react with a weak base like sodium hydrogen carbonate (sodium bicarbonate) and release carbon dioxide gas.
Updated On: Jun 16, 2026
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Solution and Explanation

Concept: Benzoic acid (C6H5COOH) is a carboxylic acid, so it is acidic enough to react with a weak base like sodium hydrogen carbonate (sodium bicarbonate) and release carbon dioxide gas. Ethyl benzoate (C6H5COOC2H5) is an ester and is not acidic, so it does not react with sodium bicarbonate.
Answer: Use the sodium bicarbonate test. Add a small amount of aqueous sodium hydrogen carbonate (NaHCO3) solution to each compound. Benzoic acid produces brisk effervescence (bubbles of CO2 gas) because the free -COOH group reacts with NaHCO3. Ethyl benzoate gives no effervescence because it has no free acidic -COOH group. The one that fizzes is benzoic acid.
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