Summary of "Chemical Tests for Acetate - MeitY OLabs"

Summary of “Chemical Tests for Acetate - MeitY OLabs”

This video explains various chemical tests to detect the presence of the acetate ion (CH₃COO⁻) in a given salt sample. The acetate ion is an anion commonly found in compounds such as acetic acid, sodium acetate, and potassium acetate. The tests are divided into preliminary tests and confirmatory tests.

Main Ideas and Concepts

Acetate Ion: A negatively charged ion with the formula CH₃COO⁻.
Acetates: Neutral compounds formed by the combination of acetate ions with cations.
Purpose: To identify the presence of acetate ions in salt samples using simple chemical tests.

Preliminary Tests for Acetate Ion

1. Physical Examination

Materials: Salt sample, watch glass, distilled water, glass rod.
Procedure:
- Place a pinch of salt on a watch glass.
- Add a few drops of distilled water.
- Rub the salt with a glass rod and smell.
Observation: Vinegar-like smell indicates acetate presence.

2. Dry Heating Test

Materials: Salt sample, test tube, test tube holder, Bunsen burner, blue litmus paper.
Procedure:
- Heat salt in a test tube.
- Hold moist blue litmus paper near the mouth of the test tube.
Observation: Acetate decomposes to acetic acid vapors, which turn blue litmus paper red.

3. Concentrated Sulfuric Acid Test

Materials: Salt sample, concentrated H₂SO₄, test tube, dropper, blue litmus paper.
Procedure:
- Add concentrated sulfuric acid to salt in test tube.
- Place blue litmus paper at the mouth of the test tube.
Observation: Vinegar-like smell and blue litmus paper turns red due to acetic acid vapors.

Confirmatory Tests for Acetate Ion

1. Oxalic Acid Test

Materials: Salt sample, solid oxalic acid, distilled water, watch glass, spatula, glass rod.
Procedure:
- Mix salt and oxalic acid on watch glass.
- Add distilled water to form a paste.
- Rub with glass rod and smell.
Observation: Vinegar-like smell from acetic acid formed by reaction.

2. Ester Test

Materials: Salt sample, concentrated sulfuric acid, ethyl alcohol, distilled water, test tubes, Bunsen burner, droppers, glass rod.
Procedure:
- Add sulfuric acid to salt in test tube and heat.
- Add ethyl alcohol and shake.
- Pour mixture into distilled water and stir.
- Smell by wafting.
Observation: Fruity smell of ethyl acetate ester confirms acetate ion.

3. Ferric Chloride Test

Materials: Aqueous salt solution, neutral ferric chloride solution, dilute hydrochloric acid, distilled water, test tubes, droppers, funnel, filter paper, Bunsen burner.
Procedure:
- Add ferric chloride to salt solution; reddish brown precipitate (ferric acetate) forms.
- Filter the precipitate.
- Add dilute HCl to one part of filtrate; reddish color disappears.
- Add distilled water to second part and boil; reddish brown precipitate reforms.
Observation: Formation and behavior of ferric acetate confirm acetate ion presence.

Precautions

Handle all chemicals and apparatus carefully.
Use droppers to add reagents to avoid contamination.
Wear lab coat and gloves during the experiment.

Speakers/Sources Featured

The video is a laboratory instructional guide by MeitY OLabs (Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, India).
No individual speaker names are mentioned; the content is presented as a narrated instructional demonstration.