# Butanone is a carbonyl compound used as a solvent in industry. A student adds a small piece of sodium carbonate to a sample of butanoic acid and to a separate sample of butanone. Explain why butanoic acid reacts with sodium carbonate but butanone does not.

> Eduqas A-Level Chemistry — 3.4 Carbonyls and acids · Explain · 5 marks

> Butanone is a carbonyl compound belonging to the ketone family. Butanoic acid is a carboxylic acid with four carbon atoms. Both compounds contain a carbonyl group (C=O), but only one belongs to the carboxylic acid family.

## Mark scheme (5 marks)

1. Butanoic acid is a carboxylic acid / contains a –COOH group
2. Carboxylic acids are acidic / produce H⁺ ions in solution / react with carbonates
3. Carbon dioxide / CO₂ is produced (bubbles/effervescence observed) when butanoic acid reacts with sodium carbonate
4. Butanone is a ketone / does not contain a –COOH group / only contains C=O
5. Butanone is not acidic / does not react with sodium carbonate because ketones do not produce H⁺ ions

## Key terms

- [carbonyl compound](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/glossary/carbonyl-compound)
- [sodium carbonate](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/glossary/sodium-carbonate)

## Related

- [Revision notes for Eduqas A-Level Chemistry](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/learn)
- [How to answer "Explain" questions](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/tools/command-word-cheatsheet)
- [Practice this with AI marking (free)](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/start)

---
Source: [GradeNine](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/q/butanone-is-a-carbonyl-compound-used-787edfd5) · Published by Druglandscape Ltd.