Alcohols and Phenols - PYQ with Answers
One-Mark Questions with Answers:
Q: What is the general formula of alcohols?
A: CₙH₂ₙ₊₁OH
Q: Name the catalyst used in the dehydration of alcohols.
A: Concentrated sulfuric acid (H₂SO₄)
Q: What is the IUPAC name of CH₃CH₂OH?
A: Ethanol
Q: What type of reaction converts alcohols to esters?
A: Esterification
Q: Name the strongest acid among alcohols and phenols.
A: Phenol
Q: What is the product of oxidation of ethanol with acidified potassium dichromate?
A: Ethanoic acid (Acetic acid)
Q: Write the formula of phenol.
A: C₆H₅OH
Q: What type of intermolecular forces exist in alcohols?
A: Hydrogen bonding
Q: What is the IUPAC name of phenol?
A: Phenol
Q: Which has a higher boiling point, ethanol or dimethyl ether?
A: Ethanol
Q: Write the molecular formula of methanol.
A: CH₃OH
Q: What happens when phenol reacts with bromine water?
A: A white precipitate of 2,4,6-tribromophenol forms.
Q: What is the reagent used to distinguish between alcohols and phenols?
A: Ferric chloride solution (FeCl₃)
Q: Which is more acidic, ethanol or phenol?
A: Phenol
Q: What is the common name of C₆H₅OH?
A: Carbolic acid
Q: Name the type of alcohol present in alcoholic beverages.
A: Ethanol
Q: What is denatured alcohol?
A: Ethanol mixed with toxic substances to make it undrinkable.
Q: Which has more solubility in water, methanol or hexanol?
A: Methanol
Q: Write the structure of tert-butyl alcohol.
A: (CH₃)₃COH
Q: How can you convert ethanol into ethene?
A: By dehydration using concentrated sulfuric acid (H₂SO₄).
Q: Name the test used to detect the presence of phenols.
A: Ferric chloride test
Q: Which group is directly attached to the benzene ring in phenol?
A: Hydroxyl group (-OH)
Q: What is the name of the reaction when phenol reacts with a diazonium salt?
A: Diazotization
Q: Name the reaction involved in the formation of ethers from alcohols.
A: Williamson’s ether synthesis
Q: What is the boiling point trend in alcohols with an increase in molecular weight?
A: Boiling point increases with an increase in molecular weight.
Five-Mark Questions with Answers:
Q: Explain the mechanism of the dehydration of ethanol to ethene.
A: Dehydration of ethanol occurs in the presence of concentrated sulfuric acid (H₂SO₄) at
170°C. The reaction is:
CH₃CH₂OH → CH₂=CH₂ + H₂O
Mechanism:
1. Protonation: Ethanol is protonated by sulfuric acid to form an ethyl oxonium ion.
2. Elimination: A molecule of water is eliminated, leading to the formation of a carbocation.
3. Deprotonation: The carbocation loses a proton, resulting in the formation of ethene.
Q: Discuss the acidity of phenols in comparison to alcohols.
A: Phenol is more acidic than alcohols due to resonance stabilization of its conjugate base
(phenoxide ion). When phenol loses a proton, the negative charge on the oxygen is
delocalized over the benzene ring through resonance. Alcohols, on the other hand, do not
have such resonance stabilization, making them less acidic.
Q: Describe the preparation of alcohols from aldehydes, ketones, and carboxylic acids.
A: From aldehydes: Reduction of aldehydes using sodium borohydride (NaBH₄) or lithium
aluminium hydride (LiAlH₄) gives primary alcohols.
RCHO + 2[H] → RCH₂OH
From ketones: Ketones are reduced to secondary alcohols using the same reducing agents.
RCOR' + 2[H] → RCHOHR'
From carboxylic acids: Reduction of carboxylic acids using lithium aluminium hydride
(LiAlH₄) gives primary alcohols.
RCOOH + 4[H] → RCH₂OH + H₂O
Q: Explain the Kolbe’s reaction and the Reimer-Tiemann reaction of phenol.
A: Kolbe’s Reaction: Phenol reacts with sodium hydroxide to form sodium phenoxide, which
upon treatment with carbon dioxide (CO₂) at high pressure and subsequent acidification
gives salicylic acid.
C₆H₅OH → C₆H₅O⁻Na⁺ → C₆H₄(OH)COOH
Reimer-Tiemann Reaction: Phenol reacts with chloroform (CHCl₃) and sodium hydroxide
(NaOH) to form salicylaldehyde.
C₆H₅OH → C₆H₄(OH)CHO
Q: Write the reaction mechanism of the esterification of alcohols.
A: Esterification is the reaction between an alcohol and a carboxylic acid to form an ester
and water in the presence of an acid catalyst (usually concentrated H₂SO₄). For example, the
reaction between ethanol and acetic acid:
CH₃COOH + CH₃CH₂OH → CH₃COOCH₂CH₃ + H₂O
Mechanism:
1. Protonation of the carboxyl group enhances the electrophilicity of the carbonyl carbon.
2. Nucleophilic attack by the alcohol on the carbonyl carbon.
3. Proton transfer and the elimination of water to form the ester.
