# Ethanol can be oxidised to produce ethanoic acid. Describe two chemical properties of ethanoic acid that show it belongs to the carboxylic acid homologous series, and explain what is meant by the term homologous series.

> AQA GCSE Chemistry (8462) — 4.7.2 Reactions of alkenes and alcohols (Chem only) · Describe · 4 marks

## Mark scheme (4 marks)

1. Ethanoic acid contains the functional group –COOH
2. Ethanoic acid is a weak acid / reacts with carbonates to produce carbon dioxide / dissolves in water to produce an acidic solution / has a pH below 7
3. A homologous series is a series of compounds with the same functional group
4. Members of a homologous series have similar chemical properties

## Key terms

- [homologous series](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/glossary/homologous-series)
- [ethanoic acid](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/glossary/ethanoic-acid)

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