JAMB - Chemistry (2024 - No. 104)

Hydrochloric acid is not suitable for preparing ethanoic acid because it is too volatile.Being too volatile, means it has a low boiling point and is easily evaporated. Thus, HCl is not suitable because it cannot carry out the oxidation process required to convert alcohols into acids like ethanoic acid.

Ethanoic acid, also known as acetic acid, is a weak acid that doesn't fully dissociate in water, while hydrochloric acid is a strong acid that dissociates almost completely.