Methanol and ethanol are distinguished by 

Methanol and ethanol are distinguished by a type of test known as Iodoform. When ethanol is warmed with iodine in the presence of NaOH, it forms a yellow colored precipitate, but methanol do not react positively to Iodoform test.${\mathrm{C}}_2{\mathrm{H}}_5\mathrm{OH}$ gives iodoform test having $\mathrm{\alpha }$-hydrogen atoms, while ${\mathrm{CH}}_3\mathrm{OH}$ does not give due to the absence of $\mathrm{\alpha }$-hydrogen atoms.