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how to distinguish between ethanol and methanol?

Ethanol gives iodoform test whereas methanol does not give iodoform test.

 NaOH,I2

CH3CH2OH  + NaOI  →  CH3CHO + NaI + H2O

CH3CHO + 3 NaOI   →   CHI3  + HCOONa  + 2 NaOH.

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methanol being a primary alcohol will not give turbidity at all while ethanol being a secondary alcohol will give turbidity after 5 min as per lucas reagent test

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 even iodoform test can be used...

methanol as CH3OH will react to give a yelllow precipitate...but ethanol as CH3CH2OH will not react.

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