Chemistry

Alcohols, Phenols and Ethers

Question:

Why is the reactivity of all three classes of alcohols with cone. HCl and ZnCl2 (Lucas reagent) different?

Answer:

The alcohol combine with HCl to form protonated alcohol. The positive charge on oxygen weakens the C – O bond leading to its cleavage.
ncert-exemplar-problems-class-12-chemistry-alcohols-phenols-ethers-41

The rate determining step in the above mechanism is (ii), which is a slow step reaction. The stability of carbocation will determine the reactivity of the reaction. Since the order of stability of carbocation is: Pri. < sec. < tert. Hence the order of formation of alkyl halide in the above reaction is pri. < sec. < tert.

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Alcohols, Phenols and Ethers

Q 1.

Classify the following as primary, secondary and tertiary alcohols.
ncert-solutions-for-class-12-chemistry-alcohols-phenols-and-ether-1
ncert-solutions-for-class-12-chemistry-alcohols-phenols-and-ether-2
ncert-solutions-for-class-12-chemistry-alcohols-phenols-and-ether-3

Q 2.

IUPAC name of the compound
ncert-exemplar-problems-class-12-chemistry-alcohols-phenols-ethers-10

Q 3.

Assertion (A): Phenols give o-nitrophenol and p-nitrophenol on nitration with cone. HNO3 and H2SO4 mixture.
Reason (R): -OH group in phenol is o-,p-directing.

Q 4.

Assertion (A): Phenol forms 2,4, 6-tribromophenol on treatment with Br2 in carbon disulphide at 273 K.
Reason (R): Bromine polarizes in carbon disulphide.

Q 5.

Write the names of reagents and equations for the preparation of the following ethers by Williamson's synthesis:
(i)1-Propoxypropane
(ii)Ethoxybenzene
(iii)2-Methoxy-2-methylpropane
(iv)1-Methoxyethane

Q 6.

While separating a mixture of ortho and para nitrophenols by steam distillation, name the isomer which will be steam volatile. Give reason.

Q 7.

Ethers can be prepared by Williamson's synthesis in which an alkyl halide is reacted with sodium alkoxide. Di-tert-butyl ether cannot be prepared by this method. Explain.

Q 8.

How can phenol be converted to aspirin?

Q 9.

You are given benzene, cone. H2S04and NaOH. Write the equations for the preparation of phenol using these reagents.

Q 10.

Arrange the following compounds in increasing order of acidity and give a suitable explanation:
Phenol, o-Nitrophenol, o-Cresol

Q 11.

Explain how does the – OH group attached to a carbon of benzene ring activate it towards electrophilic substitution?

Q 12.

Show how would you synthesise the following alcohols from appropriate alkanes?
ncert-solutions-for-class-12-chemistry-alcohols-phenols-and-ether-42

Q 13.

What is the correct order of reactivity of alcohols in the following reaction?
ncert-exemplar-problems-class-12-chemistry-alcohols-phenols-ethers-3

Q 14.

Match the starting materials given in Column I with the products formed by these (Column II) in the reaction with HI.
ncert-exemplar-problems-class-12-chemistry-alcohols-phenols-ethers-50
ncert-exemplar-problems-class-12-chemistry-alcohols-phenols-ethers-51

Q 15.

Write chemical reaction for the preparation of phenol from chlorobenzene.

Q 16.

Explain the following with an example
(i) Kolbe's reaction (ii) Reimer – Tiemann reaction –
(iii) Williamson ether synthesis (iv) Unsymmetrical ether

Q 17.

Write the equation of the reaction of hydrogen iodide with (i)1-propoxypropane (ii)methoxybenzene, and (iii)benzyl ethyl ether

Q 18.

Which of the following compounds are/is aromatic alcohol?  
ncert-exemplar-problems-class-12-chemistry-alcohols-phenols-ethers-6

Q 19.

Name the factors responsible for the solubility of alcohols in water.

Q 20.

Out of o-nitrophenol and o-cresol which is more acidic?

Q 21.

Write the structures of the isomers of alcohols with molecular formula C4H10O. Which one of these isomers exhibits optical activity?

Q 22.

Explain why alcohols and ethers of comparable molecular mass have different boiling points.

Q 23.

Assertion (A): Bond angle in ethers is slightly less than the tetrahedral angle. Reason (R): There is a repulsion between the two bulky (-R) groups.

Q 24.

Assertion (A): Like bromination of benzene, bromination of phenol is also carried out in the presence of Lewis acid.
Reason (R): Lewis acid polarizes the bromine molecule.

Q 25.

Assertion (A): o-Nitrophenol is less soluble in water than the m- and p-isomers.
Reason (R): m-Nitrophenol and p-Nitrophenol exists as associated molecules.

Q 26.

Write the mechanism of the reaction of HI with methoxybenzene.

Q 27.

Write the reactions of Williamson synthesis of 2-ethoxy-3-methylpentane starting from ethanol and 3-methylpentan-2-ol.

Q 28.

Explain why propanol has higher boiling point than that of the hydrocarbon, butane?

Q 29.

Name the reagents used in the following reactions:
(i)Oxidation of a primary alcohol to carboxylic acid.
(ii)Oxidation of a primary alcohol to aldehyde.
(iii)Brominationofphenolto2,4,6-tribromophenol
(iv)Benzyl alcohol to benzoic acid.
(v)Dehydration of propan-2-oI to propene.
(vi)Butan-2-one to butan-2-oL .

Q 30.

Illustrate with examples the limitations of Willamson synthesis for the preparation of certain types of ethers.

Q 31.

Explain the fact that in aryl alkyl ethers  (i) the alkoxy group activates the benzene ring towards electrophilic substitution and (ii) it directs the incoming substituents to ortho and para positions in benzene ring.

Q 32.

When 3-methylbutant 2-ol is treated with HBr, the following reaction takes place:
ncert-solutions-for-class-12-chemistry-alcohols-phenols-and-ether-47
Give a mechanism for this reaction.
(Hint: The secondary carbocation formed in step II rearranges to a more stable tertiary carbocation by a hydride ion shift from 3rd carbon atom.)

Q 33.

Which of the following species can act as the strongest base?
ncert-exemplar-problems-class-12-chemistry-alcohols-phenols-ethers-12

Q 34.

Which of the following are used to convert RCHO into RCH2OH?
(a) H2/Pd
(b) LiAlH4
(c) NaBH4
(d) Reaction with RMgX followed by hydrolysis

Q 35.

Which of the following reagents can be used to oxidize primary alcohols to aldehydes?
(a) CrO3 in anhydrous medium
(b) KMnO4 in acidic medium
(c) Pyridinium chlorochromate
(d) Heat in the presence of Cu at 573 K

Q 36.

Phenol can be distinguished from ethanol by the reactions with ………….
(a) Br2/water (b) Na
(c) Neutral FeCl3 (d) All of these

Q 37.

Which of the following are benzylic alcohols?
ncert-exemplar-problems-class-12-chemistry-alcohols-phenols-ethers-21

Q 38.

Suggest a reagent for the following conversion.
ncert-exemplar-problems-class-12-chemistry-alcohols-phenols-ethers-28

Q 39.

Suggest a reagent for conversion of ethanol to ethanal.

Q 40.

What happens when benzene diazonium chloride is heated with water?

Q 41.

How can propan-2-one be converted into tert-butyl alcohol?

Q 42.

Explain why nucleophilic substitution reactions are not very common in phenols.

Q 43.

Dipole moment of phenol is smaller than that of methanol. Why?

Q 44.

Explain why is p-nitrophenol more acidic than phenol?

Q 45.

The carbon-oxygen bond in phenol is slightly stronger than that in methanol. Why?

Q 46.

Write structures of the products of the following reactions:
ncert-solutions-for-class-12-chemistry-alcohols-phenols-and-ether-11

Q 47.

Give structures of the products you would expect when each of the following alcohol reacts with (a)HCl-ZnCl2 (b)HBrand (c) SOCl2
(i)Butan-1-ol
(ii)2-Methylbutan-2-ol

Q 48.

Write structures of the compounds whose IUPAC names are as follows:
(i)2-Methylbutan-2-ol
(ii)l-Phcnylpropan-2-ol
(iii)3,5-DimethyIhexane-l,3,5-triol
(iv)2,3-Dicthylphenol
(v)1-Ethoxypropane
(vi)2-Ethoxy-3-methylpentane
(vii) Cyclohexylmethanol
(viii) 3-Cyclohexylpcntan-3-ol
(ix)Cyclopcnt-3-en-l-ol
(x)4-ChIoro-3-ethylbutan-l-ol

Q 49.

Alcohols are comparatively more soluble in water than hydrocarbons of comparable molecular masses. Explain this fact.

Q 50.

Give two reactions that show the acidic nature of phenol. Compare its acidity with that of ethanol.