Question

List two tests for experimentally distinguishing alcohol and carboxylic acids.

Answer 1

Alcohols and carboxylic acids can be distinguished by litmus test and reaction with sodium hydrogen carbonate
(i) Litmus test - Alcohol will have no effect on the litmus paper. The carboxylic acid will change blue litmus paper into red.
(ii) Reaction with sodium hydrogen carbonate - Alcohol has no reaction with sodium hydrogen carbonate $\left(NaHC{O}_3\right)$ but in the case of carboxylic acid it reacts with $NaHC{O}_3$ and gives $C{H}_{3}COONa,C{O}_2$ and $H_{2}O$. The reaction is evident as the carbon dioxide will turn the lime water milky.