JEE Chemistry Alcohols Phenols and Ethers MCQs Set 12

Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) for JEE Chemistry: Alcohols Phenols and Ethers

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Multiple Choice Questions

Question 1: Picric acid is
(a) Trinitroaniline
(b) Trinitrotoluene
(c) A volatile liquid
(d) 2,4,6-Trinitrophenol
Show Answer & Explanation

Answer: (d) 2,4,6-Trinitrophenol

Explanation:
1. Picric acid is 2,4,6-trinitrophenol, a yellow crystalline solid.

Teacher's Note:
1. Nitro groups at ortho and para positions increase the acidity of phenol, and ortho-nitrophenol is steam volatile.
2. Learn the common names: carbinol, glycerol, catechol, pyrogallol, cresol, carbolic acid, picric acid.

Question 2: 3-Pentanol is a
(a) Primary alcohol
(b) Secondary alcohol
(c) Tertiary alcohol
(d) None of these
Show Answer & Explanation

Answer: (b) Secondary alcohol

Explanation:
1. \( \ce{CH3CH2CH(OH)CH2CH3} \) has the OH on a carbon attached to two carbons, so it is secondary.

Teacher's Note:
1. Count the OH groups to decide whether an alcohol is mono-, di- or trihydric.
2. Classify an alcohol by the carbon bearing OH: primary (CH2OH), secondary (CHOH) or tertiary (C-OH).

Question 3: Glycerol is a
(a) Primary alcohol
(b) Monohydric alcohol
(c) Secondary alcohol
(d) Trihydric alcohol
Show Answer & Explanation

Answer: (d) Trihydric alcohol

Explanation:
1. Glycerol, propane-1,2,3-triol, has three OH groups.

Teacher's Note:
1. Classify an alcohol by the carbon bearing OH: primary (CH2OH), secondary (CHOH) or tertiary (C-OH).
2. Learn the common names: carbinol, glycerol, catechol, pyrogallol, cresol, carbolic acid, picric acid.

Question 4: Cresols are
(a) Hydroxy toluenes
(b) Dihydric phenols
(c) Trihydric phenols
(d) Trihydric alcohols
Show Answer & Explanation

Answer: (a) Hydroxy toluenes

Explanation:
1. Cresols are methyl-substituted phenols, i.e. hydroxytoluenes (o-, m-, p-).

Teacher's Note:
1. Learn the common names: carbinol, glycerol, catechol, pyrogallol, cresol, carbolic acid, picric acid.
2. Count the OH groups to decide whether an alcohol is mono-, di- or trihydric.

Question 5: Ortho-dihydroxybenzene is
(a) Carvacrol
(b) Resorcinol
(c) Catechol
(d) Orcinol
Show Answer & Explanation

Answer: (c) Catechol

Explanation:
1. Catechol is 1,2-dihydroxybenzene; resorcinol is the 1,3 isomer and hydroquinone the 1,4 isomer.

Teacher's Note:
1. Classify an alcohol by the carbon bearing OH: primary (CH2OH), secondary (CHOH) or tertiary (C-OH).
2. Learn the common names: carbinol, glycerol, catechol, pyrogallol, cresol, carbolic acid, picric acid.

Question 6: Glycerine has
(a) One primary and two secondary -OH groups
(b) One secondary and two primary -OH groups
(c) Three primary -OH groups
(d) Three secondary -OH groups
Show Answer & Explanation

Answer: (b) One secondary and two primary -OH groups

Explanation:
1. In \( \ce{CH2OH-CHOH-CH2OH} \) the two end carbons carry primary OH and the middle carbon carries a secondary OH.

Teacher's Note:
1. Learn the common names: carbinol, glycerol, catechol, pyrogallol, cresol, carbolic acid, picric acid.
2. Count the OH groups to decide whether an alcohol is mono-, di- or trihydric.

Question 7: Which of the following is a tertiary alcohol?
(a) \( \ce{CH2(OH)CH(OH)CH2(OH)} \)
(b) \( \ce{CH3CH2CH2CH2OH} \)
(c) \( \ce{(CH3)3C-OH} \)
(d) \( \ce{CH3CH2OH} \)
Show Answer & Explanation

Answer: (c) \( \ce{(CH3)3C-OH} \)

Explanation:
1. The carbon bearing OH in tert-butyl alcohol is attached to three carbon atoms.

Teacher's Note:
1. Count the OH groups to decide whether an alcohol is mono-, di- or trihydric.
2. Classify an alcohol by the carbon bearing OH: primary (CH2OH), secondary (CHOH) or tertiary (C-OH).

Question 8: Which one is a primary alcohol?
(a) Butan-2-ol
(b) Butan-1-ol
(c) Propan-2-ol
(d) Isopropyl alcohol
Show Answer & Explanation

Answer: (b) Butan-1-ol

Explanation:
1. In butan-1-ol the OH sits on a terminal carbon, \( \ce{CH3CH2CH2CH2OH} \).

Teacher's Note:
1. Classify an alcohol by the carbon bearing OH: primary (CH2OH), secondary (CHOH) or tertiary (C-OH).
2. Learn the common names: carbinol, glycerol, catechol, pyrogallol, cresol, carbolic acid, picric acid.

Question 9: The general formula of a primary alcohol has the functional group
(a) >CHOH
(b) >C(OH)- (three carbons attached)
(c) -CH2OH
(d) =C(OH)2
Show Answer & Explanation

Answer: (c) -CH2OH

Explanation:
1. A primary alcohol contains the group \( \ce{-CH2OH} \) attached to an alkyl group or H.

Teacher's Note:
1. Count the OH groups to decide whether an alcohol is mono-, di- or trihydric.
2. Classify an alcohol by the carbon bearing OH: primary (CH2OH), secondary (CHOH) or tertiary (C-OH).

Question 10: Which of the following is phenolic?
(a) Phthalic acid
(b) Phosphoric acid
(c) Picric acid
(d) Phenylacetic acid
Show Answer & Explanation

Answer: (c) Picric acid

Explanation:
1. Picric acid is 2,4,6-trinitrophenol and has an OH directly on the benzene ring.

Teacher's Note:
1. Nitro groups at ortho and para positions increase the acidity of phenol, and ortho-nitrophenol is steam volatile.
2. Classify an alcohol by the carbon bearing OH: primary (CH2OH), secondary (CHOH) or tertiary (C-OH).

Question 11: Benzene-1,2,3-triol is also known as
(a) Pyrogallol
(b) Phloroglucinol
(c) Resorcinol
(d) Quinol
Show Answer & Explanation

Answer: (a) Pyrogallol

Explanation:
1. Pyrogallol is 1,2,3-trihydroxybenzene; phloroglucinol is the 1,3,5 isomer.

Teacher's Note:
1. Learn the common names: carbinol, glycerol, catechol, pyrogallol, cresol, carbolic acid, picric acid.
2. Count the OH groups to decide whether an alcohol is mono-, di- or trihydric.

Question 12: Butanal is an example of
(a) Primary alcohol
(b) Secondary alcohol
(c) Aliphatic aldehyde
(d) Aliphatic ketone
Show Answer & Explanation

Answer: (c) Aliphatic aldehyde

Explanation:
1. Butanal, \( \ce{CH3CH2CH2CHO} \), has the CHO group on an alkyl chain.

Teacher's Note:
1. Count the OH groups to decide whether an alcohol is mono-, di- or trihydric.
2. Classify an alcohol by the carbon bearing OH: primary (CH2OH), secondary (CHOH) or tertiary (C-OH).

Question 13: The characteristic grouping of secondary alcohols is
(a) -CH2OH
(b) >CHOH
(c) -C(OH)< (three carbon attachments)
(d) >C(OH)2
Show Answer & Explanation

Answer: (b) >CHOH

Explanation:
1. A secondary alcohol has the OH on a CH carbon bonded to two other carbons.

Teacher's Note:
1. Learn the common names: carbinol, glycerol, catechol, pyrogallol, cresol, carbolic acid, picric acid.
2. Count the OH groups to decide whether an alcohol is mono-, di- or trihydric.

Question 14: Which of the following pairs are isomers?
(a) Methyl alcohol and dimethyl ether
(b) Ethyl alcohol and dimethyl ether
(c) Acetone and acetaldehyde
(d) Propionic acid and propanone
Show Answer & Explanation

Answer: (b) Ethyl alcohol and dimethyl ether

Explanation:
1. Ethanol and dimethyl ether both have the formula \( \ce{C2H6O} \) (functional isomers)
2. The other pairs have different formulas.

Teacher's Note:
1. Ethers are cleaved by HI, form explosive peroxides in air, and act as Lewis bases forming etherates.
2. Count the OH groups to decide whether an alcohol is mono-, di- or trihydric.

Question 15: The compound \( \ce{HOCH2-CH2OH} \) is
(a) Ethane-1,1-diol
(b) Ethylene glycol
(c) Ethylidene glycol
(d) Dimethyl alcohol
Show Answer & Explanation

Answer: (b) Ethylene glycol

Explanation:
1. HOCH2CH2OH is ethane-1,2-diol, commonly ethylene glycol.

Teacher's Note:
1. Classify an alcohol by the carbon bearing OH: primary (CH2OH), secondary (CHOH) or tertiary (C-OH).
2. Learn the common names: carbinol, glycerol, catechol, pyrogallol, cresol, carbolic acid, picric acid.

Question 16: Methylated spirit is
(a) Methanol
(b) Ethanol containing a little methanol
(c) Methanoic acid
(d) Methanamide
Show Answer & Explanation

Answer: (b) Ethanol containing a little methanol

Explanation:
1. Methylated spirit is ethanol (about 95 percent) denatured with about 5 percent methanol.

Teacher's Note:
1. Learn the common names: carbinol, glycerol, catechol, pyrogallol, cresol, carbolic acid, picric acid.
2. Count the OH groups to decide whether an alcohol is mono-, di- or trihydric.

Question 17: Carbolic acid is
(a) Phenol
(b) Phenyl benzoate
(c) Phenyl acetate
(d) Salol
Show Answer & Explanation

Answer: (a) Phenol

Explanation:
1. Carbolic acid is the old name of phenol.

Teacher's Note:
1. Classify an alcohol by the carbon bearing OH: primary (CH2OH), secondary (CHOH) or tertiary (C-OH).
2. Learn the common names: carbinol, glycerol, catechol, pyrogallol, cresol, carbolic acid, picric acid.

Question 18: Absolute alcohol is
(a) 100 percent pure ethanol
(b) 95 percent ethanol and 5 percent water
(c) Ethanol, water and phenol
(d) 95 percent ethanol and 5 percent methanol
Show Answer & Explanation

Answer: (a) 100 percent pure ethanol

Explanation:
1. Absolute alcohol is anhydrous (100 percent) ethanol.

Teacher's Note:
1. Learn the common names: carbinol, glycerol, catechol, pyrogallol, cresol, carbolic acid, picric acid.
2. Count the OH groups to decide whether an alcohol is mono-, di- or trihydric.

Question 19: Which of the following is a dihydric alcohol?
(a) Glycerol
(b) Ethylene glycol
(c) Catechol
(d) Resorcinol
Show Answer & Explanation

Answer: (b) Ethylene glycol

Explanation:
1. Ethylene glycol has two OH groups on an aliphatic chain.
2. Catechol and resorcinol are dihydric phenols.

Teacher's Note:
1. Count the OH groups to decide whether an alcohol is mono-, di- or trihydric.
2. Classify an alcohol by the carbon bearing OH: primary (CH2OH), secondary (CHOH) or tertiary (C-OH).

Question 20: Wood spirit is known as
(a) Methanol
(b) Ethanol
(c) Acetone
(d) Benzene
Show Answer & Explanation

Answer: (a) Methanol

Explanation:
1. Methanol was obtained by destructive distillation of wood.

Teacher's Note:
1. Classify an alcohol by the carbon bearing OH: primary (CH2OH), secondary (CHOH) or tertiary (C-OH).
2. Learn the common names: carbinol, glycerol, catechol, pyrogallol, cresol, carbolic acid, picric acid.

Question 21: Which of the following is a simple (symmetrical) ether?
(a) \( \ce{CH3OCH3} \)
(b) \( \ce{C2H5OCH3} \)
(c) \( \ce{C6H5OCH3} \)
(d) \( \ce{C6H5OC2H5} \)
Show Answer & Explanation

Answer: (a) \( \ce{CH3OCH3} \)

Explanation:
1. A simple ether has the same group on both sides of oxygen.

Teacher's Note:
1. Ethers are cleaved by HI, form explosive peroxides in air, and act as Lewis bases forming etherates.
2. Count the OH groups to decide whether an alcohol is mono-, di- or trihydric.

Question 22: An example of a compound with the functional group -O- is
(a) Acetic acid
(b) Methyl alcohol
(c) Diethyl ether
(d) Acetone
Show Answer & Explanation

Answer: (c) Diethyl ether

Explanation:
1. The ether linkage C-O-C is present in diethyl ether.

Teacher's Note:
1. Ethers are cleaved by HI, form explosive peroxides in air, and act as Lewis bases forming etherates.
2. Classify an alcohol by the carbon bearing OH: primary (CH2OH), secondary (CHOH) or tertiary (C-OH).

Question 23: Which of the following does not contain an acyl group?
(a) Acid chloride
(b) Amide
(c) Ester
(d) Ether
Show Answer & Explanation

Answer: (d) Ether

Explanation:
1. Acyl groups (R-CO-) occur in acid chlorides, amides and esters; ethers have only C-O-C.

Teacher's Note:
1. Ethers are cleaved by HI, form explosive peroxides in air, and act as Lewis bases forming etherates.
2. Learn the common names: carbinol, glycerol, catechol, pyrogallol, cresol, carbolic acid, picric acid.

Question 24: The name of \( \ce{(CH3)2CH-O-CH2-CH2-CH3} \) is
(a) Isopropyl propyl ether
(b) Dipropyl ether
(c) Di-isopropyl ether
(d) Isopropyl propyl ketone
Show Answer & Explanation

Answer: (a) Isopropyl propyl ether

Explanation:
1. The alkyl groups are isopropyl and n-propyl.

Teacher's Note:
1. Count the OH groups to decide whether an alcohol is mono-, di- or trihydric.
2. Classify an alcohol by the carbon bearing OH: primary (CH2OH), secondary (CHOH) or tertiary (C-OH).

Question 25: In ethers, the C-O-C bond angle is about
(a) 180°
(b) 90°
(c) 110°
(d) 160°
Show Answer & Explanation

Answer: (c) 110°

Explanation:
1. The oxygen is sp3-hybridised with two lone pairs, giving an angle close to 110°.

Teacher's Note:
1. Ethers are cleaved by HI, form explosive peroxides in air, and act as Lewis bases forming etherates.
2. Learn the common names: carbinol, glycerol, catechol, pyrogallol, cresol, carbolic acid, picric acid.

Question 26: According to the Lewis concept of acids and bases, ether is
(a) Acidic
(b) Basic
(c) Neutral
(d) Amphoteric
Show Answer & Explanation

Answer: (b) Basic

Explanation:
1. Oxygen has lone pairs to donate (it forms etherates with Lewis acids such as BF3).

Teacher's Note:
1. Ethers are cleaved by HI, form explosive peroxides in air, and act as Lewis bases forming etherates.
2. Count the OH groups to decide whether an alcohol is mono-, di- or trihydric.

Question 27: The compound which is not isomeric with diethyl ether is
(a) n-Propyl methyl ether
(b) Butan-1-ol
(c) 2-Methylpropan-2-ol
(d) Butanone
Show Answer & Explanation

Answer: (d) Butanone

Explanation:
1. Diethyl ether is \( \ce{C4H10O} \); butanone is \( \ce{C4H8O} \), a different formula.

Teacher's Note:
1. Ethers are cleaved by HI, form explosive peroxides in air, and act as Lewis bases forming etherates.
2. Classify an alcohol by the carbon bearing OH: primary (CH2OH), secondary (CHOH) or tertiary (C-OH).

Question 28: The structure of diethyl ether is confirmed by
(a) Kolbe's synthesis
(b) Frankland's synthesis
(c) Wurtz's synthesis
(d) Williamson's synthesis
Show Answer & Explanation

Answer: (d) Williamson's synthesis

Explanation:
1. Williamson's synthesis from sodium ethoxide and ethyl halide shows the C2H5-O-C2H5 arrangement.

Teacher's Note:
1. Williamson synthesis is an SN2 reaction of an alkoxide with a primary alkyl halide; tertiary halides eliminate.
2. Learn the common names: carbinol, glycerol, catechol, pyrogallol, cresol, carbolic acid, picric acid.

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