Question

Can we use bromine water test to distinguish between phenol and benzoic acid?

Answer 1

Phenol is an alcohol and benzoic acid is an acid.Bromine water test in used to test saturation, ie like to differentiate between alkanes and alkenes. It can't be used to differentiate between phenol and benzoic acid.

The best method to differentiate between an alcohol and an acid is to use sodium bicarbonate. Acid gives a brisk effervescence on reaction with sodium bicarbonate whereas alcohols do not react.

So bromine water can't be used here.