Distinguish two organic compounds
“Give a chemical test to distinguish between…” - type the two compounds and get every test that tells them apart, with the reagent and what each one shows.
Answer
Warm or treat each with I2 and NaOH, warm: ethanol gives yellow precipitate of iodoform, CHI3, phenol gives no change.
Every test that tells them apart
| Test | Reagent | ethanol | phenol |
|---|---|---|---|
| Iodoform | I2 and NaOH, warm | yellow precipitate of iodoform, CHI3 | no change |
| FeCl3 | neutral FeCl3 solution | no change | violet colour |
| Bromine Water | bromine water | no change | bromine decolourised (white precipitate with phenol or aniline) |
The two compounds
alcohol, CH3CH(OH)-
phenol
Practise on real ISC questions
- Primary, secondary and tertiary alcohols can be distinguished with the help of Lucas reagent. 2026 Improvement
- Write chemical tests to distinguish between the following pairs of compounds: 2-methylpropan-2-ol and… 2025 Improvement
- Write the product(s) of the following reactions: (1)… 2018 Specimen
- Give balanced chemical equations for the following reactions: (1) Phenol is treated with ice cold alkaline… 2020
- Write chemical tests to distinguish between the following pairs of compounds: Phenol and acetic acid Ethanol… 2026 Improvement
- Give a chemical test to distinguish between the following pairs of compounds. Ethanol and methanol Ethanol… 2024
- Give balanced chemical equations for the following reactions: (1) Acetaldehyde reacts with hydrogen cyanide… 2019
- Write the chemical test to distinguish between each of the following pairs of compounds: Ethanol and… 2025
- Give one chemical test for each to distinguish between the following pair of compounds. Formaldehyde and… 2023 Specimen
- Write the chemical test to distinguish between the following pairs of compounds. Propan-1-ol and Propan-2-ol… 2025 Specimen
More Chemistry tools
- Chemical equation balancer Balance any equation, ionic and redox ones too, with the atom count on each side.
- Coordination complex analyser Hybridisation, shape, magnetic moment, CFSE, isomers and the IUPAC name of a complex.
- IUPAC name to structure Draw the structure of an organic compound from its IUPAC name, with formula and functional groups.
- Molar mass calculator Molar mass of any formula, hydrates too, with the working and percentage composition.
- Chemistry numericals calculator Solutions, electrochemistry and kinetics formulas: fill in what you know and get the rest.