Which test is used to distinguish between Phenols and aliphatic alcohols ?

Explanation

To distinguish between phenols and aliphatic alcohols, we can use the following test:

### Step-by-Step Solution:

1. **Identify the Compounds**: Understand that we are dealing with two types of compounds: phenols (like C6H5OH) and aliphatic alcohols (like ROH).

2. **Select the Reagent**: The reagent used for this test is neutral Ferric Chloride (FeCl3) solution.

3. **Perform the Test**:
- When phenol (C6H5OH) is added to neutral FeCl3 solution, a reaction occurs.
- The phenol reacts with FeCl3 to form a violet color complex known as ferric phenoxide (C6H5O)3Fe, along with hydrochloric acid (HCl) as a byproduct.
- The reaction can be represented as:
\[ 3 C6H5OH + FeCl3 \rightarrow (C6H5O)3Fe + 3 HCl \]
- This complex is characterized by its distinct violet color.

4. **Observe the Result**:
- If the solution turns violet, it indicates the presence of phenols.
- If there is no color change (the solution remains unchanged), it indicates the presence of aliphatic alcohols, which do not react with FeCl3.

5. **Conclusion**: The test with neutral FeCl3 is effective in distinguishing between phenols (which give a violet color) and aliphatic alcohols (which do not react).