is alcohol amphoteric?

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Solution

Alcohol shows slight acidic character and a slight basic behaviour according to the reaction conditions. Thus it is better to say it as an amphoteric compound which behaves as acid in strong basic medium and as base in strong acidic medium.
Ex: CH₃CH₂OH + NaOH (strong base) $\to$ CH₃CH₂ONa + H₂O (acidic behavior)
CH₃CH₂OH + HCl (strong acid) $\to$ CH₃CH₂Cl + H₂O (basic behavior)

But alcohols do not show any effect on litmus since it has a pH nearly 7 .

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