Assertion: Formic acid reduces mercuric chloride to mercurous chloride on heating , while acetic acid does not.
Reason : Formic acid is stronger acid than acetic acid.

Options

A. If Both assertion and reason are true reason is the correct explation of the assertion.
B. If Both assertion and reason are true but reason is not the correct explation of the assertion.
C. If assertion is true but reason is false.
D. If assertion is false but reason is true.

Answer

B

Explanation

Formic acid between as reducing agent as if is oxidised to an unstable acid, barbonic , which decoposes into `CO_(2)` and `H_(2)O`
`HCOOH + 2HgCI _(2) overset (Delta) to Hg_(2)CI_(2) + CO_(2) + 2HCI`
`HCOOH + 2Hg_(2)CI rarr CO_(2) + 2HCI + 2Hg` (black)`
Acetic acid remains unaffected by mercuric chloride, and does not shown reducing properties.