How to distinguish between ethanoic acid and hydrochloric acid?

What I thought of was adding thymol blue to an equal concentration and volume of both acids. In hydrochloric acid, thymol blue (changes at pH 3) should turn red but in ethanoic acid, it turns blue.



Are there any other ways of distinguishing between the two acids?



Thanks!How to distinguish between ethanoic acid and hydrochloric acid?
1. If not too dilute, merely smell them...carefully if concentrated. Do you smell vinegar?...acetic acid.

2. Run a chloride test. Add a few drops of AgNO3 soln...white ppt with HCl, no reaction with acetic acid.How to distinguish between ethanoic acid and hydrochloric acid?
Ethanoic acid is acetic acid, in vinegar, so you could simply smell them! Your method is good, HCl will always be much more acidic at the same concentratio.!