Describe a chemical test to distinguish between ethanol and ethanoic acid.
(N/A) To distinguish between ethanol and ethanoic acid,the Sodium Hydrogen Carbonate $(NaHCO_3)$ test is used.
Procedure: Take a small amount of both substances in separate test tubes and add a pinch of solid $NaHCO_3$ to each.
Observation: Ethanoic acid reacts with $NaHCO_3$ to produce brisk effervescence due to the evolution of $CO_2$ gas.
Conclusion: Ethanol does not react with $NaHCO_3$ and shows no effervescence,thus allowing us to distinguish between the two.
Procedure: Take a small amount of both substances in separate test tubes and add a pinch of solid $NaHCO_3$ to each.
Observation: Ethanoic acid reacts with $NaHCO_3$ to produce brisk effervescence due to the evolution of $CO_2$ gas.
Conclusion: Ethanol does not react with $NaHCO_3$ and shows no effervescence,thus allowing us to distinguish between the two.
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