Ethanol reacts with aqueous sodium mono-oxoio date (l) to give a bright yellow solid with...

JAMB 1987

Ethanol reacts with aqueous sodium mono-oxoio date (l) to give a bright yellow solid with a characteristic smell. The product is?

A. trichloromethane
B. triodomethane
C. iodoethane
D. ethanal

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Correct Answer: Option B

Explanation

The reaction between ethanol and aqueous sodium mono-oxoiodate (I) (also known as sodium hypoiodite,) is a classic chemical test called the iodoform test. Sodium oxoiodate (I) acts as both an oxidizing and halogenating agent.

Ethanol is first oxidized to ethanal.
The ethanal further reacts with the iodine species to form triiodomethane (CH\(_3\)I), commonly known as iodoform.
Triiodomethane is a bright yellow crystalline solid with a distinct, medicinal, or "characteristic" smell, which serves as a positive identification for alcohols containing the CH\(_3\)CH(OH) - group.

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