Alcohols, Phenols and Ethers — Class 12 MCQs with Answers
Class 12 CBSE Chemistry · Chapter 7
96 practice questions · 32 Easy · 32 Medium · 32 Hard · Updated
Practise the most important Class 12 CBSE Chemistry questions from Chapter 7, "Alcohols, Phenols and Ethers". You get 9 timed quizzes made from 96 NCERT-based MCQs, with answers and explanations. The questions are split into 32 Easy, 32 Medium and 32 Hard. Warm up on the basics, then move on to the exam-level questions that set top scorers in CBSE & Maharashtra HSC Board exams, JEE Main, MHT-CET, JEE Advanced and NEET UG apart.
To score well in "Alcohols, Phenols and Ethers", focus on reactions, key concepts and careful numericals. Each MCQ here is timed and uses exam-style marking (+4 correct, −1 wrong, 0 skipped). This trains you to stay accurate under time pressure, as real papers need. Every question has a short explanation, so a wrong answer becomes a quick lesson. It is the fastest way to fix gaps before a test.
Use this chapter for focused revision. Start with the Easy set to check your basics on Alcohols, Phenols and Ethers, then move to Medium and Hard to practise applying them. Your accuracy, streaks and XP save automatically. This chapter also adds to your overall Class 12 Chemistry mastery score. 14 sample questions are solved in full below, with the answer and a worked explanation. Sign in free to start practising.
Key concepts: Alcohols, Phenols and Ethers (Class 12 Chemistry)
Alcohols, Phenols and Ethers covers the preparation and reactions of the three –OH/–O– families, the resonance-based acidity of phenols, hydrogen bonding, distinguishing tests (Lucas), electrophilic substitution in phenol, and named reactions — Williamson ether synthesis, Kolbe's reaction and the Reimer–Tiemann reaction.
- Classification and structure
- Alcohols carry –OH on sp³ carbon (1°/2°/3°), phenols carry –OH on an aromatic ring, and ethers have R–O–R'; the C–O and O–H bonds are polar.
- Preparation of alcohols
- By acid hydration or hydroboration–oxidation of alkenes, reduction of aldehydes/ketones/acids, and addition of Grignard reagents to carbonyl compounds.
- Preparation of phenol
- Industrially from cumene (cumene hydroperoxide route, gives phenol + acetone), and from chlorobenzene (Dow process) or benzene diazonium salt.
- Acidity of phenol
- Phenol is more acidic than alcohols and water because the phenoxide ion is resonance-stabilised; electron-withdrawing groups (–NO₂) raise acidity, electron-donating lower it.
Alcohols, Phenols and Ethers — important questions & MCQs with answers (Class 12 Chemistry)
14 solved questions from this chapter's difficulty levels, each with its answer and explanation. The other 82 are timed and scored when you sign in.
- Q1Easy
Functional group of alcohol:
A.−OH✓ CorrectB.−COOHC.−CHOD.−NH₂Answer: A. −OH
Explanation: The functional group -OH defines an alcohol; -COOH marks a carboxylic acid, -CHO an aldehyde, and -NH₂ an amine, so only -OH fits an alcohol here.
- Q2Easy
General formula of ether:
A.R−NH₂B.R−OHC.R−COOHD.R−O−R'✓ CorrectAnswer: D. R−O−R'
Explanation: An ether has an oxygen bonded to two carbon groups, R-O-R′, unlike R-OH (alcohol) or R-COOH (acid) — the single ether oxygen carries no H, which is the giveaway.
- Q3Easy
The IUPAC name of CH₃-CH(OH)-CH₃ is:
A.Propan-2-ol✓ CorrectB.Propan-1-olC.2-Methylpropan-1-olD.PropanalAnswer: A. Propan-2-ol
Explanation: Numbering to give -OH the lowest locant puts it on C2 of the three-carbon chain, so the name is propan-2-ol; naming it propan-1-ol would misplace the -OH on a terminal carbon, which this structure doesn't have.
- Q4Easy
The IUPAC name of CH₃-O-CH₂-CH₃ is:
A.Methoxyethane✓ CorrectB.EthoxymethaneC.Dimethyl etherD.Propan-1-olAnswer: A. Methoxyethane
Explanation: IUPAC names the smaller alkyl-O group as an alkoxy substituent on the longer parent chain: CH₃O- on a two-carbon chain gives methoxyethane, not ethoxymethane, which would wrongly make methane the parent.
- Q5Easy
Which of the following is a primary (1°) alcohol?
A.(CH₃)₃C-OHB.(CH₃)₂CH-OHC.CH₃-CH₂-OH✓ CorrectD.C₆H₅-OHAnswer: C. CH₃-CH₂-OH
Explanation: A primary alcohol has -OH on a carbon attached to only one other carbon: CH₃-CH₂-OH qualifies, while (CH₃)₃C-OH is tertiary, (CH₃)₂CH-OH is secondary, and C₆H₅-OH is a phenol, not an alcohol at all.
- Q6Easy
Ethers have the general formula:
A.R-OHB.R-O-R'✓ CorrectC.R-CHOD.R-COOHAnswer: B. R-O-R'
Explanation: An ether's defining feature is one oxygen singly bonded to two carbon groups with no H on that oxygen, R-O-R′ — unlike R-OH, whose O-H bond lets it hydrogen-bond and be far more reactive.
- Q7Medium
Phenol is more acidic than alcohol because:
A.It's volatileB.It's smallerC.Phenoxide ion is resonance stabilised✓ CorrectD.No reasonAnswer: C. Phenoxide ion is resonance stabilised
Explanation: Losing H⁺ from phenol gives phenoxide, whose negative charge delocalises onto the ring's ortho/para carbons by resonance; an alkoxide from a plain alcohol has nowhere to spread that charge, so phenol is far more acidic.
- Q8Medium
Williamson synthesis fails with tertiary alkyl halides because:
A.Tertiary halides ionize too slowlyB.Tertiary R-X is unreactiveC.Sodium alkoxide is unstableD.Alkoxide acts as base causing elimination (E2) giving alkene✓ CorrectAnswer: D. Alkoxide acts as base causing elimination (E2) giving alkene
Explanation: With 3° R-X, the bulky alkoxide preferentially abstracts a β-H (E2), giving alkene instead of ether.
- Q9Medium
Lucas test distinguishes:
A.AcidsB.1°, 2°, 3° alcohols based on rate of reaction with HCl/ZnCl₂✓ CorrectC.EstersD.AminesAnswer: B. 1°, 2°, 3° alcohols based on rate of reaction with HCl/ZnCl₂
Explanation: Lucas reagent (HCl/ZnCl₂) reacts via SN1: 3° alcohols turn turbid immediately (stable 3° cation), 2° alcohols in about 5 minutes, and 1° alcohols only on heating — rate order tracks carbocation stability.
- Q10Medium
Cleavage of CH₃-O-C₂H₅ with excess HI gives:
A.CH₃I + C₂H₅I✓ CorrectB.CH₃I + C₂H₅OHC.CH₃OH + C₂H₅ID.CH₃OH + C₂H₅OHAnswer: A. CH₃I + C₂H₅I
Explanation: Excess HI cleaves both C-O bonds giving two alkyl iodides; methyl group preferentially attacked by I⁻ via SN2.
- Q11Medium
Lucas reagent (conc. HCl + anhydrous ZnCl₂) reacts fastest with:
A.Primary alcoholB.Secondary alcoholC.MethanolD.Tertiary alcohol✓ CorrectAnswer: D. Tertiary alcohol
Explanation: Lucas reagent works via SN1: the 3° carbocation from (CH₃)₃C-OH is stable enough to form instantly at room temperature, so turbidity appears at once — 2° alcohols need about 5 minutes and 1° alcohols need heating.
- Q12Hard
Alcohols have higher BP than alkanes of similar mass because of:
A.Aromatic ringB.Higher massC.Lower massD.Hydrogen bonding✓ CorrectAnswer: D. Hydrogen bonding
Explanation: The -OH lets alcohol molecules hydrogen-bond to each other (O-H···O), an attraction alkanes of similar mass lack entirely (only weak van der Waals forces), so alcohols need far more energy to boil.
- Q13Hard
Williamson ether synthesis uses:
A.Two alcoholsB.Alcohol + acidC.Alkoxide + alkyl halide (Sn2)✓ CorrectD.Carbonyl + amineAnswer: C. Alkoxide + alkyl halide (Sn2)
Explanation: Williamson synthesis is alkoxide + alkyl halide via SN2, so it needs a primary (or methyl) halide for backside attack; a tertiary halide instead undergoes E2 with the alkoxide as base, giving alkene, not ether.
- Q14Hard
In the Fischer esterification of CH₃COOH with C₂H₅OH (H⁺), the rate-determining step involves:
A.Deprotonation of -OH of ethanolB.Nucleophilic addition of ethanol to protonated carbonyl carbon✓ CorrectC.Loss of CO₂D.Reduction of carbonyl carbonAnswer: B. Nucleophilic addition of ethanol to protonated carbonyl carbon
Explanation: H⁺ protonates the carbonyl O, increasing electrophilicity; nucleophilic attack of ethanol is rate-determining.
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Start this chapter free →Alcohols, Phenols and Ethers — FAQs
What are the key concepts in Class 12 Chemistry Alcohols, Phenols and Ethers?+
Alcohols, Phenols and Ethers covers the preparation and reactions of the three –OH/–O– families, the resonance-based acidity of phenols, hydrogen bonding, distinguishing tests (Lucas), electrophilic substitution in phenol, and named reactions — Williamson ether synthesis, Kolbe's reaction and the Reimer–Tiemann reaction. Key ideas include Classification and structure, Preparation of alcohols, Preparation of phenol, Acidity of phenol.
What does Class 12 Chemistry Chapter 7 (Alcohols, Phenols and Ethers) cover on XamBaaz?+
It has 96 NCERT-based MCQs on "Alcohols, Phenols and Ethers": 32 Easy, 32 Medium and 32 Hard. Together they make 9 timed quizzes, and you never get the same set twice. Every question has an instant explanation. They help you prepare for CBSE & Maharashtra HSC Board exams, JEE Main, MHT-CET, JEE Advanced and NEET UG.
Are these "Alcohols, Phenols and Ethers" questions free to practise?+
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How should I revise "Alcohols, Phenols and Ethers" for the exam?+
Start with the Easy quiz to check your basics, then try Medium and Hard to practise applying them. There are 9 timed quizzes on this chapter, so you can come back for a fresh set instead of one you have seen. Read each explanation, retry the questions you miss, and track your accuracy until it stays high.
Are these "Alcohols, Phenols and Ethers" MCQs available with answers?+
Yes. 14 sample questions are shown here in full, each with the correct option and a step-by-step "Why" explanation. Sign in free with Google to start practising, with instant scoring.
Is there negative marking in the "Alcohols, Phenols and Ethers" quizzes?+
Yes. The timed quizzes use exam-style marking: +4 for a right answer, −1 for a wrong one and 0 for a skip, the same negative marking as JEE Main, JEE Advanced and NEET UG. MHT-CET and CBSE board papers have no negative marking. Our mocks for those are scored their way.
What are the important questions from Alcohols, Phenols and Ethers (Class 12 Chemistry)?+
The questions that matter most test Classification and structure, Preparation of alcohols, Preparation of phenol, Acidity of phenol. This page shows 14 solved important MCQs with answers and explanations; all 96 questions on the chapter are available as timed quizzes once you sign in.
Is there an online quiz for Alcohols, Phenols and Ethers?+
Yes — Class 12 Chemistry Alcohols, Phenols and Ethers has timed online quizzes at Easy, Medium and Hard levels, with instant scoring and a worked explanation on every question. The first quiz on the chapter is free.