Which functional group can be detected by using sodium hydrogen carbonate test?
Carboxylic acid (-COOH) can be detected by using sodium hydrogen carbonate (NaHCO3) test. Treating a carboxylic acid with NaHCO3 causes effervescence due to the liberation of carbon dioxide (CO2). The reaction is as follows:
R-COOH + NaHCO3→ R-COONa + CO2 + H2O