How would you distinguish experimentally between an alcohol and a carboxylic acid?

by Doubtly (98.9k points) in Carbon and its Compounds asked Dec 7, 2021 360 views

edited Jun 29, 2023

How would you distinguish experimentally between an alcohol and a carboxylic acid?

1 Answer

by Doubtly (98.9k points) answered Dec 7, 2021

by Doubtly selected Jun 29, 2023

Carboxylic acid on reaction with sodium carbonate produces carbon dioxide gas which turns lime water milky whereas alcohols do not give this reaction.

Reaction of Carboxylic acid with sodium carbonate:

2CH₃COOH + Na₂CO₃ → 2CH₃COONa + H₂O + CO₂

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