Question

List two test for experimentally distinguishing between an alcohol and carboxylic acid and describe how these tests are performed.

Answer 1

1) Litmus test - By dipping a blue

litmus paper in the alcohol the colour of it will not be changed whereas when we dip the blue litmus in a carboxylic acid, its colour will get changed to red.

2) Carbonate and hydrogen carbonate test - When we react

carbonate or hydrogen carbonate with a carboxylic acid then it will react with it while alcohols do not reacts with carbonates and hydrogen carbonates.