(i) Test 1 (Litmus Test); Take two strips of blue litmus paper. Place a drop each, of the alcohol and carboxylic acid or these strips separately. The blue litmus paper turns red in the case of carboxylic acid ' and remains unaffected in the case of alcohol.
(ii)Test 2 (Sodium hydrogen carbonate tesVsodium carbonate test): A pinch of sodium hydrogen carbonate or sodium carbonate is added, to both separately. If brisk effervescence with the evolution of a colourless gas is observed, it indicates the presence of carboxylic acid.
If no change is observed then it confirms the presence of the alcohol.
(iii) Test 3 (Ester test or any other suitable test) :
Detailed Answer:
(i) We can distinguish between an alcohol and a carboxylic acid on the basis of their reaction with sodium carbonate and sodium hydrogen carbonate. Carboxylic acids reacts with sodium carbonate and sodium hydrogen carbonate to evolve CO2 gas that turns lime water milky.
Alcohol, on the other hand, do not react with sodium carbonate and sodium hydrogen carbonate.
(ii) Alcohol reacts with sodium metal to produce hydrogen gas with rapid effervescence. On the other hand, carboxylic acid does not show this type of chemical reaction with sodium metal
