Carboxylic acids can be successfully separated from phenols because only carboxylic acids are acidic — Practical Organic Chemistry and Purification Chemistry Question

💡 Solution & Explanation

Carboxylic acids are stronger acids than carbonic acid, thus they liberate $CO_2$ from $NaHCO_3$. Phenols are weaker and dissolve in strong alkali ($NaOH$) but not $NaHCO_3$.