Ethanol and Ethanoic acid be differentiated on the basis of their following proprties. `rarr` Ethanol is a liquid at room temperature with a pleasant smell. Ethanoic acid has a melting point of `17^(@)`C. Since it is below the room temperature so, it freezes during winter. Moreover, ethanoic acid has a smell like vinegar. `rarr` Ethanol does not react with metal carbonates while, ethanoic acid reacts with metal carbonates to form salt, Water and carbon dioxide. For example,
`2CH_(3)COOH+Na_(2)CO_(3)rarr2CH_(3)COONa+CO_(2)+H_(2)O`
`rarr` Ethanol does not react with NaOH while ethanoic acid reacts with NaOH to form sodium ethanoate and water. For example, `CH_(3)COOH+NaOHrarrCH_(3)COONa+H_(2)Orarr` Ethanol is oxidized to give ethanoic acid in presence of acidified `KMnO_(4)` while, no reaction takes place with ethanoic acid in presence of acidified `KMnO_(4)`.
