Benzyl alcohol and phenol can be distinguished by using

Options

A. `CH_(3)MgI//`ether
B. `Na`
C. `CH_(3)COCl//`pyridine
D. `FeCl_(3)` solution

Answer

D

Explanation

Only phenol gives violet color with neutral `FeCl_(3)` solution.
`underset("phenol")(3C_(6)H_(5)OH+FeCl_(3))"-----------"underset(("Violet"))underset("Ferric phenoxid")((C_(6)H_(5)O)_(3)Fe+3HCl)`
Both react with `Na` to to librate `H_(2)`, with `CH_(3)COCl//`pyridine to form ester and with `CH_(3)MgI//`ether to form `CH_(4)`.
`c_(6)H_(5)OH overset(CH_(3)COCl)underset("pyridine")(rarr)underset("phenylacetate")(C_(6)H_(5)O-overset(O)overset(||)(C )-CH_(3))`