Question

How will you distinguish between the following pair of compounds: 

1. Chloroform and carbon tetrachioride, 

2. Benzyl alcohol and chiorobenzene.

Answer 1

1. On heating chloroform and carbon tetrachloride with aniline with ethanoic acid and potassium hydroxide separately, chloroform forms a pungent smelling isocyanide compound but carbon tetrachloride does not form this compound. 

2. On adding sodium hydroxide and silver nitrate to both the compounds, benzyl chloride forms a white precipitate but chiorobenzene does not form any white precipitate.