Question

Wine goes bad soon after opening because the ethanol (CH3CH2OH) in it reacts with oxygen gas (O2) from the air to form water (H20) and acetic acid (CH2COOH), the main ingredient of vinegar. What mass of acetic acid is produced by the reaction of 9.4 g of ethanol? Round your answer to 2 significant digits.

Answer 1

Molar mass of C2H5OH,

MM = 2*MM(C) + 6*MM(H) + 1*MM(O)

= 2*12.01 + 6*1.008 + 1*16.0

= 46.068 g/mol

mass of C2H5OH = 9.4 g

mol of C2H5OH = (mass)/(molar mass)

= 9.4/46.07

= 0.204 mol

Balanced chemical equation is:

CH3CH2OH + O2 -> CH3COOH + H2O

According to balanced equation

mol of CH3COOH formed = moles of C2H5OH

= 0.204 mol

Molar mass of CH3COOH,

MM = 2*MM(C) + 4*MM(H) + 2*MM(O)

= 2*12.01 + 4*1.008 + 2*16.0

= 60.052 g/mol

mass of CH3COOH = number of mol * molar mass

= 0.204*60.05

= 12.25 g

Answer: 12 g