How would you distinguish experimentally between an alcohol and a carboxylic acid?
Answer:
If we react carboxylic acid with sodium carbonate (Na 2 CO 3 ), it will produce CO 2 gas which turns lime water milky . However, if we react to an alcohol with sodium carbonate, CO 2 gas will not be evolved and lime water will not turn milky.
Mark A as carboxylic acid
Mark B as sodium carbonate
ALSO show milky white color in co2 test tube (like this)