Assignment:
Assume the following:
Methanoic acid, ethanoic acid, and phenol are present in solution. It is assumed that without any chemical adulteration that sufficient heat will cause these organic acids to convert to formaldehyde, methanol, and phenol gas/vapor.
The lab objective is to prevent the formation of these organic vapors.
When calcium carbonate is added to the solution of organic acids, the following compounds form: calcium methanoate salt from the methanoic acid; calcium ethanoate from the ethanoic acid; and calcium phenoxide salt from the phenol.
It is observed that very little formaldehyde observed in the gaseous side products.
If all 3 compounds were present in exactly the same molar concentration in solution, why is more methanoic acid (versus either ethanoic acid or phenol) converted to its respective "oate" salt?
Provide complete and step by step solution for the question and show calculations and use formulas.