How would you differentiate between ethanol and ethanoic acid? Organic Chemistry Functional Groups Quick Introduction of Structures 1 Answer P dilip_k Apr 9, 2016 Ethanoic acid has got #-COOH#,carboxylic group , so it acts with aqueous solution of #NaHCO_3#and produce effervescence of #CO_2# gas.This does not occur in case of Ethanol as it is neutral in nature. Thus they may be distingushed. #CH_3COOH +NaHCO_3->CH_3COONa +CO_2uparrow# Answer link Related questions What functional groups are found in proteins? What functional groups are found in the structure of melatonin? What functional groups are present in carbohydrates? What is the structure of the functional group and the condensed formula for 4,4,5-triethyl... What reactants combine to form 3-chlorooctane? How can I draw the following amines: butan-1-amine, pentan-2-amine, propan-1,2-diamine? What is N-(2,2,2-Trichloroethyl)carbonyl] Bisnor-(cis)-tilidine's functional group? What should I start learning after learning the basics of alkanes, alkenes, and alkynes? Write structural formula(condensed) for all the primary , secondary and tertiary haloalkanes... An alcohol has the molecular formula C4H10O write the structural formulae of the isomers to show... See all questions in Quick Introduction of Structures Impact of this question 2530 views around the world You can reuse this answer Creative Commons License