How to distinguish between ethanol and 2 -methyl-2-propanol

Explanation:

(i) Ethanol and propan-2-ol : Lucas Test – With concentrated HCl + ZnCl2 ethanol no turbidity is formed. Turbidity appears within five minutes in propan-2-ol.

There are many reagents.

1. Use acidified potassium permanganate solution

2. Use acidified potassium dichromate solution

3. Fehling solution.

4. Silver/ oxygen at 500°C

5. Copper/ oxygen at 300°C

6. Lucas reagent ( anhydrous zinc and conc. hydrochloric acid)

Explanation:

Observations:

[with acidified potassium permanganate solution]

» Ethanol : The purple solution turns colourless.

» 2-methyl-2-propanol : no observable change.

[with acidified potassium dichromate solution]

» Ethanol : orange solution turns green

» 2-methyl-2-propanol : no observable change.

[Fehling solution]

» Ethanol : a white precipitate is formed

» 2-methyl-2-propanol : no observable change

answer is: c. the experiment shows that the red substance experienced a chemical change.

this is chemical change (chemical reaction), because two new substances are formed (metalig liquid and gas), the atoms are rearranged and the reaction is followed by an energy change.

this is example of chemical decomposition.

chemical decomposition (analysis) is the separation of a single chemical compound into its two or more elemental parts or to simpler compounds.  

chemical decomposition is opposite of chemical synthesis.