Question

Differentiate experimentally between alcohol and carboxylic acid 2 points

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. Carboxylic acid acid will change blue litmus paper into red.

(ii)Reaction with sodium hydrogen carbonate – Alcohol has no reaction with sodium hydrogen carbonate (NaHCO3) but in the case of Carboxylic acid it reacts with NaHCO3 which gives CH3COONa, CO2 and H2O. The reaction is evident as the carbon dioxide will turn the lime water milky.

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Answer 2

Carboxylic acid:

Carboxylic acid reacts with carbonate and hydrogen carbonate to evolve CO2 that turns lime water milky.

1. When we perform litmus test with carboxylic acid, the litmus paper will change blue to red.

Alcohols:

1. Alcohols do not react with carbonates and hydrogen carbonates.
2. Litmus test – Alcohol will have no effect on the litmus paper.