List two tests for experimentally distinguishing between an alcohol and a carboxylic acid. List two tests for experimentally distinguishing between an alcohol and a carboxylic acid. (i)Litmus test – Alcohol will have no effect on the litmus paper. Carboxylic acid acid will change blue litmus paper into red.

• Litmus paper test - when red litmus is gets dipped into Alcohol it turns into blue colour and when it dipped into carboxylic acid, it doesn't change.

• Sodium Bicarbonate test - When Sodium Bicarbonate gets put into alcohol, then brisk effervescence of carbon dioxide gas doesn't gets observe. And sodium bicarbonate gets put into carboxylic acid then brisk effervescence of carbon dioxide gets observe.

Tests to Distinguish Between an Alcohol and Carboxylic Acid:

1. Sodium Bicarbonate Test:
- This test is used to differentiate between carboxylic acids and alcohols based on their reaction with sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3).
- When a carboxylic acid is added to a solution of sodium bicarbonate, it will react to produce carbon dioxide gas which can be observed as effervescence.
- On the other hand, alcohols do not react with sodium bicarbonate and hence do not produce any effervescence.

Procedure:
1. Take two test tubes and add a small amount of sodium bicarbonate to each.
2. To one test tube, add a few drops of the unknown compound (alcohol or carboxylic acid).
3. Observe for effervescence (bubbles) in the test tube.
4. If effervescence occurs, it indicates the presence of a carboxylic acid. If no effervescence is observed, it suggests the presence of an alcohol.

2. Ester Test:
- Another test to distinguish between alcohols and carboxylic acids is the ester test. This test involves the reaction of the unknown compound with an alcohol and an acid catalyst to form an ester.
- Carboxylic acids will react with alcohols to form esters, while alcohols do not undergo this reaction.

Procedure:
1. Take two separate test tubes and add a few drops of the unknown compound in each.
2. To one test tube, add a few drops of alcohol and a few drops of acid catalyst (such as concentrated sulfuric acid).
3. Heat the mixture gently in a water bath.
4. Observe for the formation of a fruity smell, which indicates the formation of an ester.
5. If a fruity smell is detected, it suggests the presence of a carboxylic acid. If no smell is observed, it indicates the presence of an alcohol.