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

• Test with NaHCO3 solution in water: By adding carboxylic acid to baking soda, carbon dioxide is liberated with brisk effervescence. On adding a solution of baking soda to alcohol, no brisk effervescence occurs.
• Test with blue litmus solution: Carboxylic acid turns blue litmus red. There is no change in colour when a blue litmus solution is added to alcohol.

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Updated on: 13-Mar-2023

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