Anti-freeze is a mixture of

Options

A. acetic acid and water
B. formic acid and water
C. methyl alcohol and water
D. ethyl alcohol and water

Explanation

**Step-by-Step Solution:**

1. **Understanding Anti-freezing Agents:**
Anti-freezing agents are substances that, when mixed with a solvent (like water), lower the freezing point of the solution. This means that the solution will remain liquid at temperatures where pure water would freeze (0°C).

2. **Analyzing the Given Options:**
We have four options to consider:
- Acetic acid and water
- Formic acid and water
- Methyl alcohol and water
- Ethyl alcohol and water

3. **Identifying the Freezing Points:**
- Acetic acid: Freezing point = 16.6°C
- Formic acid: Freezing point = 8.3°C
- Methyl alcohol: Freezing point = -97.6°C
- Ethyl alcohol: Freezing point = -114.1°C

4. **Comparing Freezing Points:**
To determine which mixture acts as an anti-freezing agent, we need to identify which of these substances has the lowest freezing point. The lower the freezing point of the substance, the more effective it will be as an anti-freezing agent when mixed with water.

5. **Finding the Lowest Freezing Point:**
Among the options:
- Acetic acid has a higher freezing point (16.6°C).
- Formic acid has a higher freezing point (8.3°C).
- Methyl alcohol has a very low freezing point (-97.6°C).
- Ethyl alcohol has an even lower freezing point (-114.1°C).

6. **Conclusion:**
Since ethyl alcohol has the lowest freezing point, it will significantly lower the freezing point of water when mixed, making it an effective anti-freezing agent. Therefore, the correct answer is **Ethyl alcohol and water**.

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