What would you do if you were given a sample of a clear liquid and asked to determine if it was water or alcohol? Explain please...
2007-09-16 09:00:56 · 5 answers · asked by shiny 1 in Education & Reference ➔ Primary & Secondary Education
Taste them.
On a more serious note, one test would be to mix the substance with iodine and sodium hydroxide. If its alcohol it will turn cloudy yellow.
2007-09-16 09:07:52 · answer #1 · answered by ictl 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Use your senses:
Water is odourless, most alcohols (methylated spirits, rubbing alcohol, beer, etc) have a distinctive scent.
If that doesn't work, water is tasteless, so I would place a drop on your tongue and see if it has a taste.
I wouldn't recommend drinking, in case it's a high concentration of alcohol - you don't want blood poisoning. A drop, however, should be just enough for you to get a taste, and if you spit immediately afterwards, very little should enter the blood stream.
2007-09-16 11:22:24 · answer #2 · answered by Dazcha 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There are several methods:
Scent. Alcohols have a distinctive aroma.
Flamability. Alcohol is flamable, test a SMALL sample.
Density. Water is denser than oil, oil is denser than alcohol.
Solvency. Alcohol will disolve oil, water will not.
Flash-point. Alcohol will rapidly evaporate at body temperature, water much more slowly.
Ph. Water is neutral.
2007-09-20 07:28:19 · answer #3 · answered by Stephen H 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Drink it and see which one gets you drunk.
No... measure the pH. Water's pH is neutral and with universal indicator solution mixed with the water, the water should turn green. Alcohol is around pH 8, so it will be a more bluey, purpley colour. You should be able to tell the difference between the colours.
2007-09-16 10:08:23 · answer #4 · answered by Catty 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Acidity, as alcohol is a weak acid.
2007-09-16 09:19:18 · answer #5 · answered by mrsdebra1966 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋