What is the action of litmus on ethanol ?
[amp_mcq option1=”Litmus is neutral towards ethanol” option2=”Ethanol turns blue litmus to red; confirming acidic nature of ethanol” option3=”Ethanol turns red litmus to blue; confirming basic nature of ethanol” option4=”Ethanol decolorizes litmus through bleaching action” correct=”option1″]
This question was previously asked in
UPSC NDA-2 – 2023
– Ethanol (C₂H₅OH) is an alcohol. The -OH group in alcohols is covalently bonded, unlike the ionic hydroxide in strong bases (e.g., NaOH).
– Alcohols are generally considered neutral compounds in aqueous solutions. While they can act as very weak acids (donating a proton from the -OH group, especially when reacting with strong bases like alkali metals) or very weak bases (accepting a proton from a strong acid at the oxygen atom), their acidity or basicity is negligible in the context of affecting litmus paper pH indicators.
– Therefore, when litmus paper is placed in ethanol or an aqueous solution of ethanol, its color remains unchanged (red litmus stays red, blue litmus stays blue), indicating a neutral pH.
– Ethanol does not possess bleaching properties like chlorine-based compounds.