How would you distinguish experimentally between an alcohol and a carboxylic acid?

To distinguish between an alcohol and a carboxylic acid, you can perform a simple experiment. Add a few drops of the substance to a test tube containing sodium carbonate (Na2CO3) or sodium bicarbonate (baking soda). If the substance is a carboxylic acid, it will react with the sodium carbonate to produce carbon dioxide gas, which will cause the mixture to fizz. If the substance is an alcohol, no reaction will occur.

Extra Explanation: Sodium carbonate is a base that reacts with carboxylic acids to produce carbon dioxide gas. This reaction is a characteristic property of carboxylic acids, making it a useful test to distinguish them from alcohols.

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