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Chemistry Forums for Students => Organic Chemistry Forum => Topic started by: yvonne on December 15, 2010, 10:13:52 PM

Title: organic acids
Post by: yvonne on December 15, 2010, 10:13:52 PM

how can i know which is stronger, ethanol phenol or ethanoic acid...is it possible to use metallic sodium to test for this and how???

Title: Re: organic acids
Post by: Hybrid on December 16, 2010, 12:00:26 AM

no u begin first with weak base and react ; if rx occur with one of them it is strong acid then upgrade till Na

begin with Na2CO3 . eff with acetic a only
then NaOH . formation of soluble sod phenate "n.b. also react with acetic"
then last with Na it react with all of them

Title: Re: organic acids
Post by: baum0372 on December 16, 2010, 12:25:18 AM

You should also check the pKa values for the compounds.  The lower the pKa, the stronger the acid.  Is that what you are looking for?