How will you differentiate between an alcohol and a carboxylic acid?

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Solution

On reaction with sodium carbonate, carboxylic acids produces carbon dioxide gas which turns limewater milky whereas alcohols do not show any reaction. This experiment can be used to distinguish an alcohol and a carboxylic acid.

Reaction of Carboxylic acid with sodium carbonate:
$2 C H_{3} C O O H + N a_{2} C O_{3} \to 2 C H_{3} C O O N a + H_{2} O + C O_{2}$

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