Question

Give a chemical test to distinguish between an alcohol and a carboxylic acid.

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.

Answer 2

Alcohol is a base and carboxylic acid is an acid

Chemical test: Put sodium hydrogen carbonate or sodium carbonate to alcohol and carboxylic acid.
Carboxylic acid being an acid will give co2,h20 and salt
while alcohol being a base shows no change .