Which of the following reagent/solution can be used to distinguish between methanoic acid and ethanoic acid?

Which of the following reagent/solution can be used to distinguish between methanoic acid and ethanoic acid?
  1. Tollens reagent
  2. HCl solution
  3. $\mathrm{NaOH}$ solution
  4. $\mathrm{NaHCO}_{3}$ solution

Solution

Methanoic acid (i.e. formic acid) reduces ammoniacal $\mathrm{AgNO}_{3}$ solution (Tollens reagent) while ethanoic acid does not. /

Asked in: JEE-TOPICTESTS-CHEMISTRY

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