Methyl alcohol cab be distinguished from Ethyl alcohol using

Options

A. Fehling solution
B. Schiff's reagent
C. Sodium hydroxide and iodine
D. Phthalein fusion test

Answer

To distinguish methyl alcohol (methanol) from ethyl alcohol (ethanol), we can use the Iodoform test. Here's a step-by-step solution:

### Step 1: Identify the chemical structures
- Methyl alcohol (methanol) has the chemical formula CH₃OH.
- Ethyl alcohol (ethanol) has the chemical formula CH₃CH₂OH.

### Step 2: Understand the Iodoform test
- The Iodoform test is a qualitative test used to identify the presence of methyl ketones or alcohols that can be oxidized to methyl ketones.

### Step 3: Perform the Iodoform test
- When ethyl alcohol (CH₃CH₂OH) is treated with sodium hydroxide (NaOH) and iodine (I₂), it undergoes a reaction that produces a yellow precipitate of iodoform (CHI₃).
- The reaction can be summarized as follows:
\[ CH₃CH₂OH + NaOH + I₂ \rightarrow \text{Yellow precipitate (Iodoform)} \]

### Step 4: Compare with methyl alcohol
- In contrast, when methyl alcohol (CH₃OH) is treated with sodium hydroxide and iodine, no reaction occurs, and thus no yellow precipitate is formed.

### Step 5: Conclusion
- Therefore, the presence of a yellow precipitate indicates the presence of ethyl alcohol, while the absence of a precipitate indicates methyl alcohol.

### Final Answer
- Methyl alcohol can be distinguished from ethyl alcohol using sodium hydroxide and iodine (Iodoform test).

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