Alcohols, Phenols, and Ethers – MCQs
Q1. The functional group of alcohols is:
A. –OH
B. –COOH
C. –NH₂
D. –OR
Q2. The IUPAC name of CH₃CH₂OH is:
A. Methanol
B. Ethanol
C. Propanol
D. Methanal
Q3. Primary alcohol can be oxidized to:
A. Aldehyde
B. Ketone
C. Carboxylic acid
D. Both A and C
Q4. Secondary alcohol can be oxidized to:
A. Aldehyde
B. Ketone
C. Carboxylic acid
D. Ester
Q5. Tertiary alcohols:
A. Can be oxidized to ketones
B. Cannot be oxidized easily
C. Form aldehydes
D. Form carboxylic acids
Q6. Phenols differ from alcohols because:
A. Hydroxyl group is attached to sp² carbon of benzene
B. Hydroxyl group is attached to sp³ carbon
C. Phenols are non-acidic
D. Alcohols are aromatic
Q7. The IUPAC name of C₆H₅OH is:
A. Benzyl alcohol
B. Phenol
C. Cyclohexanol
D. Benzenol
Q8. Alcohols can be prepared by:
A. Hydration of alkenes
B. Reduction of carbonyl compounds
C. Hydrolysis of haloalkanes
D. All of the above
Q9. Phenols can be prepared by:
A. Cumene process
B. Hydrolysis of halobenzenes
C. Reactions of diazonium salts
D. All of the above
Q10. Williamson ether synthesis involves:
A. Alcohol + NaH → Ether
B. Alcohol + Alkyl halide → Ether
C. Phenol + Alkyl halide → Ether
D. All of the above
Q11. Alcohols show hydrogen bonding. Which property increases due to this?
A. Boiling point
B. Solubility in water
C. Both A and B
D. Neither
Q12. Phenols are more acidic than alcohols because:
A. Resonance stabilization of phenoxide ion
B. Inductive effect
C. Hydrogen bonding
D. Less steric hindrance
Q13. Reaction of alcohol with HBr produces:
A. Haloalkane
B. Ether
C. Aldehyde
D. Ketone
Q14. Alcohols react with carboxylic acids in presence of acid catalyst to give:
A. Ester
B. Ether
C. Aldehyde
D. Ketone
Q15. Oxidation of tertiary alcohols gives:
A. Ketone
B. Aldehyde
C. No reaction
D. Carboxylic acid
Q16. Reaction of phenol with bromine water gives:
A. 2,4,6-tribromophenol
B. Bromobenzene
C. Phenol bromide
D. No reaction
Q17. Reaction of alcohol with PCC gives:
A. Aldehyde from primary alcohol
B. Ketone from secondary alcohol
C. Carboxylic acid
D. Both A and B
Q18. Alcohols + PCl₅ gives:
A. Alkyl chloride
B. Alkyl bromide
C. Ether
D. Carboxylic acid
Q19. Alcohols react with ZnCl₂ (Lucas reagent). Which alcohol reacts fastest?
A. Tertiary
B. Secondary
C. Primary
D. All equal
Q20. Which of the following is an aromatic ether?
A. C₆H₅–O–CH₃
B. CH₃–O–CH₃
C. CH₃–O–CH₂CH₃
D. CH₃CH₂–O–CH₃
Q21. Alcohol + Na →
A. Alkoxide + H₂
B. Haloalkane
C. Ether
D. Ketone
Q22. Phenol + Na →
A. Sodium phenoxide + H₂
B. Sodium alcoholate
C. Sodium halide
D. No reaction
Q23. Primary alcohol reacts faster in:
A. SN2 reactions
B. SN1 reactions
C. Free radical reactions
D. Electrophilic substitution
Q24. Reaction of alcohol with concentrated H₂SO₄ at 170°C gives:
A. Alkene (dehydration)
B. Ether
C. Haloalkane
D. Aldehyde
Q25. Alcohol reacts with hot H₂SO₄ at 140°C to give:
A. Ether
B. Alkene
C. Aldehyde
D. Ketone
Q26. Acidic cleavage of ether with HI gives:
A. Alkyl iodide
B. Alcohol
C. Alkane
D. Aldehyde
Q27. Alcohols can be oxidized by:
A. KMnO₄
B. PCC
C. CrO₃
D. All of the above
Q28. Phenols react with Na₂CO₃:
A. No reaction
B. CO₂ evolution
C. Formation of sodium phenoxide
D. Formation of haloarene
Q29. Phenol + NaOH →
A. Sodium phenoxide
B. Alcohol
C. Carboxylic acid
D. Halide
Q30. Acidic cleavage of ether (R–O–R’) with HBr produces:
A. RBr + R’Br
B. Alcohol + Halide
C. Alkane
D. Aldehyde
Q31. Alcohol + conc. H₂SO₄ → Alkene:
A. Yes, via E1 mechanism
B. No
C. Yes, via SN2
D. Yes, via SN1
Q32. Ethanol + Na →
A. Sodium ethoxide + H₂
B. Ethyl chloride
C. Ether
D. Acetaldehyde
Q33. Alcohol + CrO₃ →
A. Aldehyde (primary) or Ketone (secondary)
B. Carboxylic acid
C. Ether
D. Alcohol
Q34. Reaction of phenol with chloroform + NaOH gives:
A. Salicylaldehyde (Reimer-Tiemann)
B. Benzaldehyde
C. Phenyl ketone
D. Chlorobenzene
Q35. Alcohols show:
A. Hydrogen bonding
B. Only Van der Waals forces
C. Ionic bonding
D. Metallic bonding
Q36. Ethers have:
A. Polar C–O–C bond
B. Hydrogen bonding
C. High boiling points
D. Acidic nature
Q37. Phenols + Br₂ give:
A. 2,4,6-tribromophenol
B. Bromobenzene
C. Haloalcohol
D. No reaction
Q38. Alcohol reacts with SOCl₂ →
A. Alkyl chloride
B. Alkyl bromide
C. Ether
D. Aldehyde
Q39. Primary alcohol + K₂Cr₂O₇ (acidic) →
A. Aldehyde → Carboxylic acid
B. Ketone
C. Ether
D. Haloalkane
Q40. Secondary alcohol + K₂Cr₂O₇ →
A. Ketone
B. Aldehyde
C. Carboxylic acid
D. Ether
Q41. Tertiary alcohol + K₂Cr₂O₇ →
A. No reaction
B. Ketone
C. Aldehyde
D. Carboxylic acid
Q42. Which is more acidic?
A. Phenol > Alcohol
B. Alcohol > Phenol
C. Ethers > Alcohol
D. Alcohol = Phenol
Q43. Alkyl phenols react with:
A. Bromine → tribromophenols
B. KMnO₄ → Carboxylic acids
C. Conc. H₂SO₄ → Sulfonation
D. All of the above
Q44. Williamson ether synthesis requires:
A. Alkoxide ion + Alkyl halide
B. Alcohol + Acid
C. Phenol + Base only
D. Ether + Halide
Q45. Alcohol + Acid (HCl/HBr) →
A. Alkyl halide
B. Ether
C. Aldehyde
D. Ketone
Q46. Phenols react with FeCl₃ →
A. Violet complex
B. No reaction
C. Green complex
D. Precipitate
Q47. Diethyl ether reacts with HI →
A. Ethyl iodide
B. Alcohol
C. Ketone
D. Aldehyde
Q48. Alcohols are soluble in water due to:
A. Hydrogen bonding
B. Polarity of C–H bond
C. Size of alkyl group
D. Van der Waals forces
Q49. Phenols are weakly acidic due to:
A. Resonance stabilization of phenoxide ion
B. Inductive effect
C. Hydrogen bonding
D. Both A and B
Q50. Ethers do not:
A. React with dilute acids
B. Show acidity
C. Form hydrogen bonds as donors
D. All of the above
Q1. A – Alcohol functional group is –OH.
Q2. B – CH₃CH₂OH is Ethanol.
Q3. D – Primary alcohol oxidizes first to aldehyde, then to carboxylic acid.
Q4. B – Secondary alcohol oxidizes to ketone.
Q5. B – Tertiary alcohols cannot be oxidized easily (no H on –OH carbon).
Q6. A – Phenols have –OH attached to sp² carbon of benzene ring.
Q7. B – C₆H₅OH is Phenol.
Q8. D – Alcohols can be prepared by hydration of alkenes, reduction of carbonyls, and hydrolysis of haloalkanes.
Q9. D – Phenols can be prepared by all listed methods.
Q10. D – Williamson synthesis: alcohol/phenol + alkyl halide via alkoxide ion.
Q11. C – Hydrogen bonding increases boiling point and solubility.
Q12. A – Phenols are more acidic due to resonance-stabilized phenoxide ion.
Q13. A – Alcohol + HBr → Haloalkane (substitution).
Q14. A – Alcohol + Carboxylic acid → Ester (esterification).
Q15. C – Tertiary alcohols resist oxidation → no reaction.
Q16. A – Phenol + Br₂ → 2,4,6-tribromophenol (electrophilic substitution).
Q17. D – PCC oxidizes primary alcohol → aldehyde, secondary → ketone.
Q18. A – Alcohol + PCl₅ → Alkyl chloride.
Q19. A – Tertiary alcohol reacts fastest in Lucas test (SN1).
Q20. A – C₆H₅–O–CH₃ is an aromatic ether.
Q21. A – Alcohol + Na → Alkoxide + H₂.
Q22. A – Phenol + Na → Sodium phenoxide + H₂.
Q23. A – SN2 reactions are faster with primary alcohols (less steric hindrance).
Q24. A – Alcohol + conc. H₂SO₄ at high temperature → Alkene (dehydration).
Q25. A – Alcohol + H₂SO₄ at 140°C → Ether.
Q26. A – Acidic cleavage of ether → Alkyl halide.
Q27. D – Alcohols can be oxidized by KMnO₄, PCC, CrO₃.
Q28. A – Phenols do not react with Na₂CO₃ (weak acid) → no CO₂ evolution.
Q29. A – Phenol + NaOH → Sodium phenoxide.
Q30. A – R–O–R’ + HI → R–I + R’–I.
Q31. A – Alcohol dehydration to alkene occurs via E1 mechanism.
Q32. A – Ethanol + Na → Sodium ethoxide + H₂.
Q33. A – Oxidation: primary → aldehyde → carboxylic acid, secondary → ketone.
Q34. A – Phenol + chloroform + NaOH → Salicylaldehyde (Reimer-Tiemann).
Q35. A – Alcohols show hydrogen bonding.
Q36. A – Ethers have polar C–O–C bond, but no donor H → no H-bonding.
Q37. A – Phenol + Br₂ → 2,4,6-tribromophenol.
Q38. A – Alcohol + SOCl₂ → Alkyl chloride.
Q39. A – Primary alcohol + K₂Cr₂O₇ → Aldehyde → Carboxylic acid.
Q40. A – Secondary alcohol + K₂Cr₂O₇ → Ketone.
Q41. A – Tertiary alcohol + K₂Cr₂O₇ → No reaction.
Q42. A – Phenols are more acidic than alcohols due to resonance stabilization.
Q43. D – Alkyl phenols react with Br₂, KMnO₄, H₂SO₄ (all listed).
Q44. A – Williamson synthesis requires alkoxide + alkyl halide.
Q45. A – Alcohol + HCl/HBr → Alkyl halide.
Q46. A – Phenols + FeCl₃ → Violet complex (tests phenol group).
Q47. A – Diethyl ether + HI → Ethyl iodide (cleavage).
Q48. A – Alcohol solubility in water due to hydrogen bonding.
Q49. D – Phenols are weakly acidic due to resonance + inductive effects.
Q50. D – Ethers are neutral, do not react with dilute acids, do not show acidity, minimal H-bonding.
Disclaimer:
All MCQs and solutions are educational, and for practice purposes only. They are based on NCERT and NEET syllabus and are not official NEET questions.