Free Alcohols MCQs with Answers
154 Alcohols MCQs from Chemistry, each with the correct answer and a written explanation of why it is correct. Free and unlimited, with no account needed.
Alcohols contain a hydroxyl group attached to a saturated carbon atom and are classified as primary, secondary or tertiary. Their nomenclature, hydrogen bonding, acidity, oxidation, dehydration, reaction with sodium and conversion to haloalkanes are covered, along with the distinction between alcohols and phenols, where the hydroxyl group is attached directly to an aromatic ring.
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- A. their molecules are hydrogen bonded to one another
- B. they are ionic compounds
- C. their covalent bonds are stronger
- D. they have larger molecules
Explanation: The hydroxyl group allows hydrogen bonding between molecules, and a great deal of extra energy is needed to break those bonds before the…
Correct answer: their molecules are hydrogen bonded to one another- A. a ketone
- B. an aldehyde
- C. a carboxylic acid
- D. an alkene
Explanation: Distilling removes the aldehyde as soon as it is produced, before it can be oxidised further, whereas heating under reflux keeps it in the…
Correct answer: an aldehyde- A. carries a positive charge
- B. is attached to a halogen
- C. has no hydrogen atom attached to it
- D. is part of a benzene ring
Explanation: Oxidation of an alcohol involves removing the hydroxyl hydrogen together with a hydrogen from the same carbon, and in a tertiary alcohol…
Correct answer: has no hydrogen atom attached to it- A. ethane
- B. ethanoic acid
- C. ethoxyethane
- D. ethene
Explanation: At the higher temperature water is eliminated from one molecule to give the alkene, while at about 140 degrees two molecules condense…
Correct answer: ethene- A. sodium ethoxide and hydrogen
- B. sodium ethanoate and water
- C. ethene and sodium hydroxide
- D. no reaction at all
Explanation: The hydroxyl hydrogen is weakly acidic, so sodium displaces it to give an ionic alkoxide and hydrogen gas, though the reaction is far…
Correct answer: sodium ethoxide and hydrogen- A. an aldehyde
- B. an ester with a fruity smell
- C. an alkene
- D. a soap
Explanation: Esterification joins the acid and the alcohol with the loss of water, giving ethyl ethanoate, and the sulphuric acid acts both as catalyst…
Correct answer: an ester with a fruity smell- A. any primary alcohol
- B. methanol
- C. ethanol and other alcohols containing the CH3CH(OH) group
- D. all tertiary alcohols
Explanation: The test needs a methyl group attached to the carbon bearing the hydroxyl, so ethanol and propan-2-ol respond while methanol and…
Correct answer: ethanol and other alcohols containing the CH3CH(OH) group- A. CH3CH2CH2OH
- B. CH3CH(OH)CH3
- C. (CH3)3COH
- D. CH3OH
Explanation: In propan-2-ol the carbon carrying the hydroxyl group is attached to two other carbons, which is the definition of secondary.
Correct answer: CH3CH(OH)CH3- A. fermentation with yeast
- B. oxidation with acidified dichromate
- C. reduction with hydrogen
- D. direct hydration with steam over a phosphoric acid catalyst
Explanation: Steam and ethene are passed over phosphoric acid at about 300 degrees Celsius and 60 atmospheres, giving a pure product continuously from…
Correct answer: direct hydration with steam over a phosphoric acid catalyst- A. carbon dioxide and water
- B. methanoic acid and methanal, which damage the optic nerve
- C. ethanol
- D. glucose
Explanation: The same enzyme that handles ethanol converts methanol into methanal and then methanoic acid, and these attack the optic nerve and cause…
Correct answer: methanoic acid and methanal, which damage the optic nerve- A. a monohydric alcohol
- B. a dihydric alcohol
- C. a trihydric alcohol
- D. a phenol
Explanation: Ethylene glycol contains two hydroxyl groups on adjacent carbons, so it is dihydric, while glycerol with three hydroxyls is trihydric and…
Correct answer: a dihydric alcohol- A. propanal
- B. propanoic acid
- C. propene
- D. propanone
Explanation: Propan-2-ol is a secondary alcohol, so oxidation removes the single hydrogen on the carbinol carbon and leaves a ketone, which resists…
Correct answer: propanone- A. the hydroxyl group disappears in longer molecules
- B. long chain alcohols are gases
- C. the growing non polar hydrocarbon chain cannot form hydrogen bonds with water and dominates the molecule
- D. longer alcohols react with water
Explanation: Methanol, ethanol and propan-1-ol mix with water in all proportions because the hydroxyl group hydrogen bonds effectively, but as the…
Correct answer: the growing non polar hydrocarbon chain cannot form hydrogen bonds with water and dominates the molecule- A. alkane
- B. carboxylic acid
- C. Acetylene
- D. ketone
Explanation: A secondary alcohol has the functional structure R-CHOH-R and oxidation converts it into a ketone, R-CO-R, without changing the carbon…
Correct answer: ketone- A. Acetic acid
- B. Methane
- C. Ethyl alcohol
- D. Methyl alcohol
Explanation: LiAlH4 reduces an aldehyde to a primary alcohol, so acetaldehyde, CH3CHO, becomes ethanol, CH3CH2OH, also called ethyl alcohol.
Correct answer: Ethyl alcohol- A. Primary Alcohol
- B. Secondary Alcohol
- C. Tertiary alcohol
- D. None of These
Explanation: Oxidation of a primary alcohol first gives an aldehyde containing the same number of carbon atoms, for example CH3CH2OH gives CH3CHO.
Correct answer: Primary Alcohol- A. Butanol
- B. Ethylene glycol
- C. Ethanol
- D. Glycerol
Explanation: Soap manufacture by saponification of fats and oils produces glycerol as a by-product, along with the salts of fatty acids that form soap.
Correct answer: Glycerol- A. Primary Alcohol
- B. Secondary Alcohol
- C. Tertiary alcohol
- D. None of These
Explanation: LiAlH4 reduces a ketone's carbonyl group to an -OH group while retaining both carbon groups attached to that carbon, producing a secondary…
Correct answer: Secondary Alcohol- A. More Soluble in water
- B. Insoluble in water
- C. Soluble in water on heating
- D. Insoluble in all solvents
Explanation: Lower molecular-weight alcohols are relatively soluble in water because their polar hydroxyl group forms hydrogen bonds with water, and…
Correct answer: More Soluble in water- A. Conc. HCl & Anhydrous ZnCl2
- B. Dil. HCl & hydrated ZnCl2
- C. Conc. HNO3 & Anhydrous ZnCl2
- D. Conc. HNO3 & Anhydrous MgCl2
Explanation: Lucas reagent is a mixture of concentrated HCl and anhydrous ZnCl2. ZnCl2 acts as a Lewis acid and helps convert the alcohol's -OH group…
Correct answer: Conc. HCl & Anhydrous ZnCl2Alcohols MCQs: common questions
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