Q33
1 markMCQSection B

Acetic acid smells like:

Also asked in:20112012
Carbon and its Compounds
Properties of Ethanoic Acid

Options

(1)a banana
(2)vinegar
(3)an orange
(4)a lemon
Official Answer

Acetic acid has a characteristic smell of vinegar.

acetic acidvinegarethanoic acidsmell

Marking Scheme

  • 11 mark for selecting the correct option (B).

Hint

Think of a common household liquid used in pickles as a preservative, which is actually a dilute solution of ethanoic acid.

Quick Oral Answer

Acetic acid smells like vinegar because vinegar is a dilute 5–8%5\text{--}8\% solution of acetic acid in water.

Analysis & Explanation

<b>Correct Option (B):</b> Acetic acid (CH3COOH\text{CH}_3\text{COOH}), also known as ethanoic acid, is the primary constituent of vinegar. A 5–8%5\text{--}8\% solution of acetic acid in water is called vinegar and is widely used as a food preservative, giving it its characteristic pungent smell.<br><br><b>Incorrect Option (A):</b> Bananas owe their sweet, fruity aroma to organic esters (such as isoamyl acetate), not acetic acid.<br><b>Incorrect Option (C):</b> Oranges have a citrusy smell due to limonene and citric acid.<br><b>Incorrect Option (D):</b> Lemons have a sharp citrus smell due to citric acid and citral.

Common Mistakes

  1. 1Confusing the smell of acetic acid with sweet-smelling esters or other citrus fruit acids.

Interesting Facts

Vinegar has been used since ancient times as a preservative and disinfectant, and its name comes from the French 'vin aigre', meaning 'sour wine'.

Spotted a mistake or something unclear?

Tell us — we fix reported answers fast.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many marks does this question carry in CBSE Class 10 Science 2011?

This question carries 1 mark in the CBSE Class 10 Science 2011 examination.

Which chapter does this question come from in Science?

This question is from the chapter "Carbon and its Compounds" in the CBSE Class 10 Science syllabus.

What topic does this question cover in Science?

This question covers the topic "Properties of Ethanoic Acid" from CBSE Class 10 Science.

Has this question appeared in other CBSE Science papers?

Yes, a similar question appeared in the 2011, 2012 CBSE Class 10 Science papers.

What type of question is this in the CBSE Class 10 Science 2011 paper?

This is a MCQ question from Section B in the CBSE Class 10 Science 2011 paper.