Which of the following reagents may be used to distinguish between phenol and benzoic acid ?

Which of the following reagents may be used to distinguish between phenol and benzoic acid ?
  1. Tollen's reagent
  2. Molisch reagent
  3. Neutral $\mathrm{FeCl}_3$
  4. Aqueous $\mathrm{NaOH}$

Solution

Phenol gives violet coloured comlex compound with neutral $\mathrm{FeCl}_3$, benzoic acid gives pale dull yellow ppt. with neutral $\mathrm{FeCl}_3$

Asked in: JEE Main 2011

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