Question

You are provided with oxalic acid you're required to carry out the tests below.

i)Place a little of the oxalic in a metal spatula and ignite it.
Give the observation and inference.

Answer 1

Igniting oxalic acid on a spatula would typically result in the release of carbon dioxide and water vapor, indicating its decomposition upon heating. Without conducting the experiment, exact observations cannot be accurately predicted, but the inference is the decomposition of the acid.

Step-by-step explanation:

When oxalic acid is placed in a metal spatula and ignited, we expect observations that indicate a chemical reaction, such as glowing, smoldering, or the formation of gases and carbon residues. However, without conducting the experiment under controlled conditions, predicting the exact observations can lead to inaccuracies.

Commonly in the laboratory, the decomposition of oxalic acid would produce carbon dioxide and water vapor when heated, which might not be visibly distinct. The inference from such a reaction is that oxalic acid is a compound that can decompose upon heating, typically yielding carbon dioxide and water.