Phenol and ethanol can be differentiated through their distinct reactions with:

I. Br2/water     

II. Na     

III. Neutral FeCl3      

Choose the correct option:
1. I, II
2. II, III
3. I only
4. I, III


Ethanol does not react with Br2/water while phenol gives 2, 4, 6-tribromophenol as white precipitate.

Ethanol and phenol both react with sodium, so phenol cannot be distinguished from ethanol by the reaction with sodium.

Ethanol does not give any reaction with neutral FeCl3   solution while phenol gives purple, blue or red colour when treated with neutral FeCl3 .

Therefore, correct options are (a) and (c).