Fundamentals of Organic ChemistryChemistryCarboxylic Acid Derivatives
Which of the following compounds will produce effervescence of CO ₂ when treated with an aqueous solution of NaHCO ₃ ?
Options
- AOnly 2,4,6-trinitrophenol
- BNeither HCOOH nor 2,4,6-trinitrophenol
- COnly HCOOH
- DBoth HCOOH and 2,4,6-trinitrophenol
Correct answer
D. Both HCOOH and 2,4,6-trinitrophenol
Step-by-step solution
Compounds that are stronger acids than carbonic acid ( H ₂ CO ₃ ) will react with aqueous NaHCO ₃ to produce effervescence of CO ₂ gas. The pK_a of carbonic acid is approximately 6.4 . Formic acid ( HCOOH ) has a pK_a of 3.75 , making it a stronger acid than carbonic acid. It reacts with NaHCO ₃ to release CO ₂ . 2,4,6-trinitrophenol (picric acid) contains three strongly electron-withdrawing - NO ₂ groups on the benzene ring, which highly stabilize the phenoxide ion. Its pK_a is 0.38 , making it a much stronger aci