Question

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

Answer 1

Physical Properties:

Both Ethanol and ethanoic acid are liquids at room temperature and have distinct melting and boiling points.

Physical Property	Ethnol	Ethanoic acid
Melting Point (in K)	156	290
Boiling Point (in K)	351	391

Chemical Properties:

Ethanoic acid produces CO₂ when reacted with carbonates or bicarbonates. Ethanol does not react with carbonates or bicarbonates.

Ethanoic acid reacts with a base (say NaOH) to give salt and water:

CH₃COOH + NaOH → CH₃COONa + H₂O

Ethanol reacts very slightly with NaOH.