Phenol can be distinguished from ethanol by the following reagents, except:

Step-by-step solution

With neutral FeCl 3 solution, phenol gives violet colour solution but CH 3 CH 2 OH does not give this test. 6 C 6 H 5 OH + FeCl 3 → Fe O C 6 H 5 6 3 - + 3 H + + 3 HCl Violet colour complex Phthalic anhydride/Conc. H 2 SO 4 and NaOH Phenol cannot be distinguished from ethanol by sodium because both evolve hydrogen with sodium. 2 C 6 H 5 O H + 2 N a → 2 C 6 H 5 O N a + H 2 ↑ 2 C 2 H 5 O H + 2 N a → 2 C 2 H 5 O N a + H 2 ↑