Is there a specific test for tertiary alcohols?

Question

Is there a test for tertiary alcohols which doesn't involve oxidation - which just says that the liquid is not primary or secondary . This result may mean that it, as well as being a tertiary, can be anything that doesn't oxidise right?

Answer 1

PCl5 will tell you that it has an -OH group. A moderate reaction with Na metal will tell you the same. It won't react with Na2CO3, and then the fact that it can't be oxidised should then tell you that you have a tertiary alcohol.