What is the Difference Between Ethanoic Acid and Propanoic Acid?

Ethanoic acid and propanoic acid are both carboxylic acids with the functional group –COOH. The key difference between them is the number of carbon atoms in their molecules: ethanoic acid has two carbon atoms, while propanoic acid has three carbon atoms. Here is a comparison of their properties:

• Molecular Structure: Ethanoic acid has the molecular structure CH3COOH, while propanoic acid has the molecular structure CH3CH2COOH.
• Molar Mass: The molar mass of ethanoic acid is 60.05 g/mol, while the molar mass of propanoic acid is 74.079 g/mol.
• Acidity: Propanoic acid is considered a stronger acid than ethanoic acid due to its lower pKa value. This means that propanoic acid is more likely to donate a hydrogen ion than ethanoic acid.
• Electron-withdrawing Effect: Ethanoic acid has a stronger electron-withdrawing effect than propanoic acid because it has a more stable anion (ethanoate) than propanoic acid (propanoate). This makes ethanoic acid more acidic than propanoic acid.

In summary, ethanoic acid and propanoic acid differ in the number of carbon atoms in their molecules, with ethanoic acid having two and propanoic acid having three. Ethanoic acid is more acidic than propanoic acid due to its stronger electron-withdrawing effect and more stable anion.

Comparative Table: Ethanoic Acid vs Propanoic Acid

Here is a table comparing the differences between ethanoic acid and propanoic acid:

Both ethanoic acid and propanoic acid are carboxylic acids, but they differ in the number of carbon atoms in their molecular structures. Ethanoic acid has two carbon atoms, while propanoic acid has three carbon atoms. They also have different molecular formulas, names, melting points, boiling points, and densities.