How can ethanol and ethanoic acid be differentiated on the basis of their physical and chemical properties?
Distinction based on physical properties are as:
(a) Smell: Ethanol has a characteristic smell known as alcoholic smell which is pleasant. Ethanoic acid has a vinegar-like smell.
(b) Boiling point: Boiling point of ethanol (351 K) is less than that of ethanoic add (391 K).
(c) Litmus test: Ethanol is neutral in nature and does not change in the colour of litmus whether blue or red. Ethanoic acid is acidic and changes the colour of a blue litmus strip to red.
Distinction based on chemical properties:
(a) Action with sodium hydrogen carbonate: On adding a small amount of sodium hydrogen carbonate to ethanoic acid, carbon dioxide gas is evolved with brisk effervescence. However, no such reaction is noticed in case of ethanol.
(b) Action with caustic alkali: Ethanoic add reacts with both sodium hydroxide (NaOH) and potassium hydroxide (KOH) to form corresponding salt and water. Ethanol fails to react with either of these.