1) The functional group of the compound A of molecular formula C_2H_4O_2C2H4O2, widely used as a preservative in pickles is
-COOH
and the compound is ethanoic acid commonly known as acetic acid having structural formula CH_3COOHCH3COOH
2) The chemical equation for the reaction with ethanol (CH_3CH_2OH) (CH3CH2OH) is as follows. The sweet smelling compound B formed here is an ester named ethyl ethanoate and the reaction occurs in presence of conc. H_2SO_4H2SO4
3)The Compound A can be reproduced from B by hydrolysis
4) The name of the process is hydrolysis . In this process B is heated with aqueous solution of NaOHorKOHNaOHorKOH and the ethanol produced escapes as volatile matter. As a result a solution of sodium ethanoate is obtained. This solution on heating with . H_2SO_4H2SO4 solution gives back the ethanoic acid.
Equations may be written as follows
CH_3COOCH_2CH_3 +NaOH->CH_3COONa+CH_3CH_2OHCH3COOCH2CH3+NaOH→CH3COONa+CH3CH2OH
CH_3COONa+ H^+ ->CH_3COOH + Na^+ CH3COONa+H+→CH3COOH+Na+