When acetic acid reacts with thionyl chloride, the product formed is acetyl chloride. The balanced chemical equation for the reaction is:CH3COOH + SOCl2 CH3COCl + SO2 + HClThe mechanism of this transformation involves the following steps:1. Nucleophilic attack: The oxygen atom of the carboxylic acid acetic acid attacks the sulfur atom of thionyl chloride, forming an intermediate with a tetrahedral geometry around the sulfur atom.2. Proton transfer: A chloride ion Cl- from thionyl chloride abstracts a proton H+ from the oxygen atom of the intermediate, forming hydrochloric acid HCl .3. Elimination of SO2: The intermediate collapses, releasing sulfur dioxide SO2 and forming the final product, acetyl chloride CH3COCl .This reaction is a common method for converting carboxylic acids into acyl chlorides, which are more reactive and versatile intermediates in organic synthesis.