Alcohols

  1. What is an alcohol in chemistry?
    → An organic compound containing one or more hydroxyl groups (–OH) attached to a saturated carbon atom.

  2. What is the general formula for a simple alcohol?
    → R–OH, where R is an alkyl group.

  3. How are alcohols different from phenols?
    → Alcohols have –OH on an alkyl group, while phenols have –OH on an aromatic ring.

  4. Give two examples of alcohols.
    → Methanol (CH₃OH) and Ethanol (CH₃CH₂OH).

  5. Are alcohols polar or non-polar?
    → Polar, due to the O–H bond — they can hydrogen bond.

🧪 Intermediate Level

  1. How are alcohols classified?
    → Based on how many carbon atoms are attached to the carbon bearing the –OH:

    • Primary (1°): R–CH₂–OH

    • Secondary (2°): R₂CH–OH

    • Tertiary (3°): R₃C–OH

  2. What is the IUPAC suffix for naming alcohols?
    → -ol
    Example: Propane → Propanol

  3. What happens when a primary alcohol is oxidized?
    → It forms an aldehyde, then further oxidation gives a carboxylic acid.

  4. What happens when a secondary alcohol is oxidized?
    → It forms a ketone.

  5. Can tertiary alcohols be oxidized easily?
    → No, because the carbon with the –OH group has no hydrogen atoms to remove.

🧠 Advanced / Chemistry Concepts

  1. What type of reaction forms an alcohol from an alkene?
    → Hydration: Alkene + H₂O → Alcohol (with acid catalyst)

  2. How does the boiling point of alcohols compare to alkanes?
    → Alcohols have higher boiling points due to hydrogen bonding.

  3. What is a dehydration reaction in alcohols?
    → Removal of water (H and OH) to form an alkene, often using heat and acid.

  4. What happens when an alcohol reacts with a carboxylic acid?
    → It forms an ester and water (esterification).

  5. What is Lucas' test, and what does it distinguish?
    → A test using HCl + ZnCl₂ to differentiate between primary, secondary, and tertiary alcohols based on their reactivity (tertiary reacts fastest).