Question

Give the uses of (i) formic acid (ii) acetic acid (iii) benzoic acid (iv) acetyl chloride (v) acetic anhydride (vi) ethyl acetate.

Answer 1

Formic acid: It is used

1. for the dehydration of hides
2. as a coagulating agent for rubber latex
3. in medicine for the treatment of gout
4. as an antiseptic in the preservation of fruit juice.

Acetic acid: It is used

1. as table vinegar
2. for coagulating rubber latex
3. for manufacture of cellulose acetate and poly vinylacetate.

Benzoic acid: It is used

1. as food preservation either in the pure form or in the form of sodium benzoate
2. in medicine as an urinary antiseptic
3. for manufacture of dyes.

Acetyl chloride: It is used

1. as acetylating agent in organic synthesis
2. in detection and estimation of —OH, — NH₂ groups in organic compounds.

Acetic anhydride: It is used

1. acetylating agent
2. in the preparation of medicine like asprin and phenacetin
3. for the manufacture plastics like cellulose acetate and poly vinyl acetate.

Ethyl acetate is used

1. in the preparation of artificial fruit essences
2. as a solvent for lacquers
3. in the preparation of organic synthetic reagent like ethyl acetoacetate.

Uses:

Acetamide is used in the preparation of primary amines.