NEET ChemistryUpdated 19 Oct 2026

Alcohols, Phenols, and Ethers: NEET PYQs and weightage

Alcohols, Phenols, and Ethers carries 5.0 of 100 Chemistry marks in NEET by past-paper share: 35 of the 707 tagged NEET Chemistry PYQs in the ViJEEta bank (NEET 2013–2026). It ranks 5 of 26 Chemistry chapters.

Take the 25-question Alcohols, Phenols, and Ethers test Key facts ↓All NEET Chemistry chapters

5.0/100 Weight in Chemistry

Exam importance (4/5, by past-paper share)

35 NEET PYQs

478 Practice questions

442 With measured difficulty

How the weight is computed: this chapter's tagged NEET PYQs divided by all tagged NEET Chemistry PYQs in the bank (35 of 707), times 100, with repeated questions counted once. The bank does not store the year of each NEET question, so none is printed. Computed from the bank at build time. Updated 19 Oct 2026.

Alcohols, Phenols, and Ethers: key facts for NEET

16 facts the paper keeps asking, each with how it is asked. Copy it onto one page of your notebook: that page is this chapter's handbook.

Bond angles and C–O bond length
The C–O–H angle in alcohols is slightly less than $10 9^{\circ} 2 8^{'}$ (lone pair repulsion). The C–O–C angle in ethers is slightly more (bulky R groups). C–O bond: phenol $136$ pm, ether $141$ pm.
Asked as: Why is the C–O bond in phenol shorter than in methanol? (partial double bond character + $s p^{2}$ carbon)
Hydration and hydroboration–oxidation
Acid-catalysed hydration of alkenes follows Markovnikov's rule. Hydroboration–oxidation ( $B_{2} H_{6}$ , then $H_{2} O_{2} /NaOH$ ) gives the anti-Markovnikov-looking alcohol.
Asked as: Propene + $B_{2} H_{6}$ then $H_{2} O_{2} /O H^{-}$ gives? (propan-1-ol)
Grignard reagent and carbonyls
Grignard reagent + methanal gives a $1^{\circ}$ alcohol, + other aldehydes a $2^{\circ}$ alcohol, + ketones a $3^{\circ}$ alcohol.
Asked as: $C H_{3} MgBr$ + propanone, then hydrolysis, gives? (2-methylpropan-2-ol)
Preparation of phenol
Phenol is made from chlorobenzene + $NaOH$ at $623$ K and $320$ atm. Most of the world's phenol comes from cumene, with acetone as the by-product.
Asked as: Cumene hydroperoxide + dil. acid gives? (phenol + acetone)
Boiling points
Boiling point rises with the number of carbons and falls with branching. Alcohol $>$ ether $\approx$ alkane of similar mass (butan-1-ol $390$ K, ethoxyethane $307.6$ K, n-pentane $309.1$ K).
Asked as: Arrange in increasing b.p. (n-butane $<$ ethoxyethane $<$ pentanal $<$ pentan-1-ol)
Acidity of alcohols and phenol
Alcohols are weaker acids than water, so sodium ethoxide is a stronger base than $NaOH$ . Phenol ( $p K_{a} = 10.0$ ) is about a million times more acidic than ethanol ( $p K_{a} = 15.9$ ).
Asked as: Which reacts with aqueous $NaOH$ : ethanol or phenol? (phenol)
pKa of substituted phenols
$p K_{a}$ values: p-nitrophenol $7.1$ , o-nitrophenol $7.2$ , m-nitrophenol $8.3$ , phenol $10.0$ , cresols about $10.1$ – $10.2$ . $- N O_{2}$ at o/p raises acidity most, and alkyl groups lower it.
Asked as: Increasing acidity: propan-1-ol $<$ 4-methylphenol $<$ phenol $<$ 3-nitrophenol $<$ 3,5-dinitrophenol $<$ picric acid
Lucas test
Lucas reagent is conc. $HCl + ZnC l_{2}$ . A $3^{\circ}$ alcohol gives turbidity at once, while a $1^{\circ}$ alcohol gives none at room temperature.
Asked as: Which alcohol gives immediate turbidity with Lucas reagent? (tertiary)
Dehydration of alcohols
Ethanol + conc. $H_{2} S O_{4}$ gives ethene at $443$ K but ethoxyethane at $413$ K. Ease of dehydration is $3^{\circ} > 2^{\circ} > 1^{\circ}$ , and carbocation formation is the slow (rate-determining) step.
Asked as: Rate-determining step in acid dehydration of ethanol? (formation of the carbocation)
Oxidation and dehydrogenation
PCC, or $Cr O_{3}$ in anhydrous medium, oxidises a $1^{\circ}$ alcohol to an aldehyde, and $Cr O_{3}$ oxidises a $2^{\circ}$ alcohol to a ketone. $3^{\circ}$ alcohols resist oxidation. Over Cu at $573$ K, $1^{\circ}$ gives an aldehyde, $2^{\circ}$ gives a ketone and $3^{\circ}$ is dehydrated to an alkene.
Asked as: A $3^{\circ}$ alcohol vapour passed over hot Cu at $573$ K gives? (alkene)
Nitration of phenol
Dilute $HN O_{3}$ at $298$ K gives o- and p-nitrophenol. They are separated by steam distillation: the ortho isomer is steam volatile because of intramolecular H-bonding. Conc. $HN O_{3}$ gives picric acid (2,4,6-trinitrophenol).
Asked as: Which nitrophenol is steam volatile, and why?
Bromination of phenol
Phenol + bromine water gives 2,4,6-tribromophenol as a white precipitate. $B r_{2}$ in $C S_{2} /CHC l_{3}$ at low temperature gives monobromophenols, with no Lewis acid needed.
Asked as: Reagent for phenol $\to$ 2,4,6-tribromophenol? (bromine water)
Kolbe's and Reimer–Tiemann reactions
Kolbe's reaction: sodium phenoxide + $C O_{2}$ gives o-hydroxybenzoic acid. Reimer–Tiemann: phenol + $CHC l_{3}$ + $NaOH$ puts $- CHO$ at the ortho position, giving salicylaldehyde.
Asked as: Phenol + $CHC l_{3}$ /aq. $NaOH$ , then acid, gives? (salicylaldehyde)
Commercial methanol and ethanol
Methanol ("wood spirit") is made from $CO + H_{2}$ over $ZnO - C r_{2} O_{3}$ . Ethanol fermentation uses invertase (sugar $\to$ glucose + fructose) and then zymase from yeast, which stops above 14% alcohol. Denatured alcohol contains $CuS O_{4}$ + pyridine.
Asked as: Enzyme that converts glucose to ethanol? (zymase)
Williamson synthesis
Williamson synthesis is an $S_{N} 2$ reaction of an alkoxide on a primary alkyl halide. With a $3^{\circ}$ halide, only an alkene forms ( $C H_{3} ONa + (C H_{3})_{3} C - Br$ gives only 2-methylpropene).
Asked as: Best reactants for t-butyl ethyl ether? ( $(C H_{3})_{3} C - ONa + C_{2} H_{5} Br$ )
Cleavage of ethers by HX
$HI$ cleaves ethers, with reactivity $HI > HBr > HCl$ . Anisole gives phenol + $C H_{3} I$ . If one group is $3^{\circ}$ , the $3^{\circ}$ alkyl iodide forms ( $S_{N} 1$ ).
Asked as: Products of anisole + $HI$ ? (phenol + methyl iodide, never iodobenzene)

Trap

In Williamson synthesis, the bulky (3°) group must be on the alkoxide and the halide must be primary. Ethoxide + tert-butyl bromide gives 2-methylpropene, not the ether.

How does NEET ask Alcohols, Phenols, and Ethers?

8 real previous-year questions from this chapter, as printed in the paper, each with its worked solution. Answer the first one here with no sign-in.

Q1ChemistryNEET UG PYQPreparation of Ethers

Try right here · No sign-in

Identify Z in the sequence of reaction: CH

_{3}

_{2}

CH = CH

_{2}

H B r / H_{2} O_{2}

C_{2} H_{5} O N a

Answer key (C) & worked solution

Correct answer: Option C

Apply Anti-Markovnikov rule CH

_{3}

_{2}

CH = CH

_{2}

H B r H_{2} O_{2}

_{3}

_{2}

_{2}

_{2}

Br Williamson’s synthesis CH

_{3}

_{2}

_{2}

_{2}

Br + CH

_{3}

_{2}

ONa → CH

_{3}

_{2}

_{2}

_{2}

OCH

_{2}

_{3}

Q2ChemistryNEET UG PYQChemical Properties of Alcohols

The products A and B obtained in the following reactions, respectively are 3ROH + PCl

_{3}

→ 3RCl + A ROH + PCl

_{5}

→ RCl + HCl + B

APOCl

_{3}

and H

_{3}

_{4}

_{3}

_{4}

and POCl

_{3}

_{3}

_{3}

and POCl

_{3}

DPOCl

_{3}

and H

_{3}

_{3}

Answer key (C) & worked solution

Correct answer: Option C

The reactions are as follows 3ROH + PCl

_{3}

→ 3RCl + H

_{3}

_{3}

ROH + PCl

_{5}

→ RCl + POCl

_{3}

+ HCl Hende, correct answer is option (c)

Q3ChemistryNEET UG PYQPhysical Properties of Phenol

The most suitable method of separation of 1: 1 mixture of ortho and para-nitrophenols is

ACrystallisation

BSteam distillation

CSublimation

DChromatography

Answer key (B) & worked solution

Correct answer: Option B

Steam distillation is the most suitable method of separation of 1 : 1 mixture of ortho and para nitrophenols as there is intramolecular H-bonds in ortho nitrophenol.

Q4ChemistryNEET UG PYQChemical Properties of Alcohols

Which of the following series of transitions in the spectrum of hydrogen atom falls in visible region?

ABalmer series

BPaschen series

CBrackett series

DLyman series

Answer key (A) & worked solution

Correct answer: Option A

In H-spectrum, Balmer series transition fall in visible region.

Q5ChemistryNEET UG PYQIntroduction of Ether

Which of the following is a cationic detergent?

ACetyltrimethyl ammonium bromide

BSodium dodecylbenzene sulphonate

CSodium lauryl sulphate

DSodium stearate

Answer key (A) & worked solution

Correct answer: Option A

Cetyltrimethyl ammonium bromide is a cationic detergent as it’s hydrophilic part is a quaternary ammonium ion. Sodium dodecylbenzene sulphonate and Sodium lauryl sulphate are anionic detergents.

Sodium stearate is a soap.

Q6ChemistryNEET UG PYQChemical Properties of Phenol

Which of the following will not be soluble in Sodium hydrogen carbonate?

A2, 4 , 6 - trinitrophenol

BBenzenesulphonic acid

Co- Nitrophenol

DBenzoic acid

Answer key (C) & worked solution

Correct answer: Option C

The acids that are stronger than H

_{2}

_{3}

H2CO3 react with sodium bicarbonate to give carbon dioxide. Such acids are soluble in sodium hydrogen carbonate.

So, o- Nitrophenol is weaker acid as compared to H

_{2}

_{3}

.It is not soluble.

Q7ChemistryNEET UG PYQChemical Properties of Phenol

Statement I: The acidic strength of monosubstituted nitrophenol is higher than phenol because of electron withdrawing nitro group. Statement II: o-nitrophenol, m-nitrophenol and p-nitrophenol will have same acidic strength as they have one nitro group attached to the phenolic ring. Choose the most appropriate answer from the options given below:

ABoth Statement I and Statement II are correct.

BBoth Statement I and Statement II are incorrect.

CStatement I is correct but Statement II is incorrect.

DStatement I is incorrect but Statement II is correct.

Answer key (C) & worked solution

Correct answer: Option C

S-I is correct but S-II is incorrect as o-, m- and p-nitrophenol are more acidic than phenol. o-, p- and m-nitrophenol have different acidic strength.

Q8ChemistryNEET UG PYQChemical Properties of Alcohols

The pK

_{b}

of dimethylamine and pK

_{a}

of acetic acid are 3.27 and 4.77 respectively at T(K). The correct option for the pH of dimethyl ammonium acetate solution is:

A7.75

B6.25

C8.50

D5.50

Answer key (A) & worked solution

Correct answer: Option A

The given salt is a salt of weak acid + weak base. pH = 0.5 [pK

_{w}

+ pK

_{a}

– pK

_{b}

] pH = 0.5 [14 + 4.77 – 3.27] pH = 0.5 [15.5] pH = 7.75

Which topics in Alcohols, Phenols, and Ethers carry the most questions?

The 12 busiest of 16 topics, by tagged PYQs, then practice questions. Counted from the bank. Updated 19 Oct 2026.

Topic	PYQs	Practice questions
Chemical Properties of Alcohols	13	140
Chemical Properties of Phenol	5	109
Preparation of Ethers	4	36
Chemical Properties of Ethers	4	22
Introduction of Ether	2	14
Physical Properties of Phenol	2	9
Preparation of Alcohols	1	43
Test of Alcohols and Phenol	1	39
Preparation of Phenol	1	12
Miscellaneous Examples	1	1
Uses of Alcohols and Phenol	1	0
Introduction of Alcohols	0	23

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Chapters either side of Alcohols, Phenols, and Ethers by weight

Hydrocarbons Weight 5.9/100 Solutions Weight 5.7/100 Chemical Kinetics Weight 4.5/100 d- and f-Block Elements Weight 4.4/100

Alcohols, Phenols, and Ethers: NEET PYQs and weightage

Alcohols, Phenols, and Ethers: key facts for NEET

Bond angles and C–O bond length

Hydration and hydroboration–oxidation

Grignard reagent and carbonyls

Preparation of phenol

Boiling points

Acidity of alcohols and phenol

pKa of substituted phenols

Lucas test

Dehydration of alcohols

Oxidation and dehydrogenation

Nitration of phenol

Bromination of phenol

Kolbe's and Reimer–Tiemann reactions

Commercial methanol and ethanol

Williamson synthesis

Cleavage of ethers by HX

How does NEET ask Alcohols, Phenols, and Ethers?

Which topics in Alcohols, Phenols, and Ethers carry the most questions?

Why does Alcohols, Phenols, and Ethers show "–" until you answer 3 questions?

What happens when you test Alcohols, Phenols, and Ethers?

Chapters either side of Alcohols, Phenols, and Ethers by weight