Q34
1 markMCQSection B

Acetic acid solution turns:

Carbon and its Compounds
Properties of Ethanoic Acid

Options

(1)blue litmus red
(2)red litmus blue
(3)blue litmus colourless
(4)red litmus colourless
Official Answer

Acetic acid solution turns blue litmus red.

blue litmus redacidic natureacetic acidlitmus test

Marking Scheme

  • 11 mark for selecting the correct option (A.

Hint

Recall the general behavior of acidic substances towards litmus indicators. Acetic acid is a carboxylic acid.

Quick Oral Answer

An aqueous solution of acetic acid turns blue litmus paper red because it releases hydrogen ions (H+\text{H}^+) in water, demonstrating its acidic nature.

Analysis & Explanation

<b>Correct Option (A):</b> Acetic acid (CH3COOH\text{CH}_3\text{COOH}) is an organic acid. In an aqueous solution, it dissociates to release hydrogen ions (H+\text{H}^+). These free hydrogen ions are responsible for its acidic nature, which turns blue litmus paper red.<br><br><b>Incorrect Option (B):</b> Red litmus paper turns blue only in the presence of basic (alkaline) substances, whereas acetic acid is acidic.<br><b>Incorrect Options (C) & (D):</b> Litmus paper does not become colourless; it acts as an indicator by changing colour between red and blue depending on the pH of the medium.

Common Mistakes

  1. 1Thinking that because acetic acid is a weak acid, it will not show a clear color change with blue litmus paper.

Interesting Facts

Even though acetic acid is a weak acid and does not fully ionize in water, it is still acidic enough to easily turn blue litmus paper red, unlike neutral substances like pure water.

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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.

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.