Question 12.30:
Why is a solution of potassium hydroxide used to absorb carbon dioxide evolved during
the estimation of carbon present in an organic compound?
Carbon dioxide is acidic in nature and potassium hydroxide is a strong base. Hence, carbon
dioxide reacts with potassium hydroxide to form potassium carbonate and water as:
Thus, the mass of the U-tube containing KOH increases. This increase in the mass of Utube
gives the mass of CO2 produced. From its mass, the percentage of carbon in the
organic compound can be estimated.
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