Question : How can ethanol and ethanoic acid be differentiated on the basis of their physical and chemical properties?

Question : How can ethanol and ethanoic acid be differentiated on the

1.	Question : How can ethanol and ethanoic acid be differentiated on the basis of their physical and chemical properties?
Answer» Solution :1. Physical properties: 1. Smell:- Ethanoic acid has a pungent smell while ethanol has a pleasant smell. 2. Melting point :- The melting point of ethanol is much lower (156k) than that of ethanoic acid (290k) In winter season ethanoic acid FREEZES to form GLACIER like crystal while ethanol remains as a liquid. 3. Boiling point:- The boiling point of ethanoic acid is much higher (391)k than that of ethanol (351k). 4. Action of litmus:- Ethanol is a neutral COMPOUND and hence it neither turns blue litmus red, nor red litmus blue. In contrast ethanoic acid is acidic in nature and hence turns blue litmus red. II Chemical properties: 1. Action of sodium carbonate and sodium hydrogen carbonate:- Ethanoic acid produce brisk EFFERVESENCE due to the evolution of Co, gas from sodium carbonate or sodium hydrogen carbonate but ethanol does not. `2CH_3COOH + Na_2 CO_3 to 2Ch_3COONa + CO_2 + H_2O` `CH_3 COOH + NaHCO_3 to CH_3 COOHNa + CO_2 + h_2O` Action of alkaline potassium permanaganate:- Ethanol discharges the PINK colour of `KMnO_4 `but ethanoic acid does not