How can ethanol and ethanoic acid be differentiated on the basis of their physical and chemical properties?

Explanation

Difference between ethanol and ethanoic acid.
(a) Physical properties : Ethanol is a liquid at room temperature. Its boiling point is 351 K and melting point is 156 K. Alcohol and is the active ingredient of all alcoholic drinks, It is soluble in water in all proportions.
The boiling point of ethanoic, acid is 391 K. The melting point of pure ethanoic acid is 290 K and hence it often freezes during winter in cold climates.
(b) Chemical properties :
Reactions of Ethanol :
(1) Reaction with sodium : Alcohols react with sodium leading to the evolution of hydrogen. With ethanol, the other product is sodium ethoxide.
`2Na+2CH_3CH_2OH rarr underset("Sodium ethoxide")(2CH_3CH_2O^(-)Na^(+)) + H_2`
(2) Reaction to give unsaturated hydrocarbon : Heating ethanol at 443 K with excess concentrated sulphuric acid results in the dehydration of ethanol to give ethene
`CH_3-CH_2OH overset("Hot conc.")underset(H_2SO_4)to CH_2=CH_2+H_2O`
The concentrated sulphuric acid can be regarded as a dehydrating agent which removes water from ethanol.
Reactions of ethanoic acid :
(1) Esterification reaction : Esters are most commonly formed by reaction of an acid and an alcohol. Ethanqic acid reacts with absolute ethanol in the presence of an acid catalyst to give an ester.
`underset("Ethanoic acid")(CH_3-COOH)+underset("Ethanol")(CH_3-CH_2OH) overset("Acid")to underset("Ester")(CH_3-underset(O)underset(||)C-O-CH_2-CH_3)`
Esters are sweet-smelling substances. These are used in making perfumes and as flavouring agents. Esters react in the presence of an acid or a base to give back the alcohol and carboxylic acid. Thịs reaction is known as saponification because it is used in the preparation of soap.
`CH_3COOC_2H_5 overset(NaOH)to C_2H_5OH+CH_3COOH`
(2) Reaction with a base : Like mineral acids, ethanoic acid reacts with a base such, as sodium hydroxide to give a salt (sodium ethanoate or commonly called sodium acetate) and water.
`NaOH + CH_3COOH rarr CH_3COONa + H_2O`
(3) Reaction with carbonates and hydrogen carbonates : Ethanoic acid reacts with carbonates and hydrogencarbonates to give rise to a salt, carbon dioxide and water. The salt produced is commonly called sodium acetate.
`2CH_3COOH + Na_2CO_3 rarr 2CH_3COONa + H_2O+CO_2`
`CH_3COOH+NaHCO_3 rarr CH_3COONa+H_2O+ CO_2`