How would you distinguish experimentally between an alcohol and a carboxylic acid?
Alcohols can be distinguished from carboxylic acid using the sodium carbonate (Na2CO3) or sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3) test. Alcohols do not react with sodium carbonate or bicarbonate, whereas acid reacts with them to release carbon dioxide.
2RCOOH + Na2CO3→ 2RCOONa + CO2↑ + H2O
RCOOH + NaHCO3→ RCOONa + CO2↑ + H2O
Alcohol + Na2CO3→ No reaction