(a) Sodium metal test: Add a small piece of sodium metal to the organic liquid (to be tested), taken in a dry test tube. If bubbles (or effervescence) of hydrogen gas are produced, it indicates that the given organic liquid is an alcohol.
(b) Harmful effects of drinking alcohol:
(i) Alcohol slows down the activity of the nervous system and brain due to which the judgement of a person is impaired and his reaction becomes slow.
(ii) Heavy drinking of alcohol on a particular occasion leads to staggered movement, slurred speech and vomiting.
(c) Unlike ethanol, drinking methanol, even in a small quantity can be fatal leading to permanent blindness and even death. Methanol damages the optic nerve causing permanent blindness in a person. This happens because methanol is oxidised to methanal in the liver of a person. This methanal reacts rapidly with the components of the cell causing coagulation of their protoplasm. Due to this, the cells stop functioning normally.
