NEET Alcohols, Phenols and Ethers PYQs & Practice Questions

10 free NEET Chemistry questions on Alcohols, Phenols and Ethers, starting with previous year questions (2017–2022). Tap “Show answer” to check each one. No login needed.

Topics: Classification and Nomenclature of Alcohols · Preparation of Alcohols · Chemical Properties of Alcohols · Acidity of Alcohols and Phenols · Chemical Properties of Phenols · Preparation of Ethers · Physical Properties of Alcohols · Reactions of Ethers · Dehydration of Alcohols · Kolbe's Reaction and Reimer–Tiemann Reaction · Reactions of Ethers — Cleavage by HI · Product of Toluene's Side-Chain Chlorination Followed by Hydrolysis

1. Q1NEET 2022Acidity of Phenols

   Given below are two statements: 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. In the light of the above statement, choose the most appropriate answer from the options given below:

   • A. Both Statement I and Statement II are incorrect.
   • B. Statement I is correct but Statement II is incorrect.
   • C. Statement I is incorrect but Statement II is correct.
   • D. Both Statement I and Statement II are correct.
   Show answer

   Answer: A — Both Statement I and Statement II are incorrect.

   Statement I is correct - nitro group is electron withdrawing, increasing acidic strength of nitrophenol compared to phenol. Statement II is incorrect because o-, m-, and p-nitrophenol do NOT have the same acidic strength; they differ due to differences in resonance and inductive effects based on position (order: p-nitrophenol > o-nitrophenol > m-nitrophenol in Ka, though exact order can vary by effect considered).

2. Q2NEET 2022Lucas Test for Alcohols

   Given below are two statements: Statement I: In Lucas test, primary, secondary and tertiary alcohols are distinguished on the basis of their reactivity with conc. HCl + ZnCl2, known as Lucas Reagent. Statement II: Primary alcohols are most reactive and immediately produce turbidity at room temperature on reaction with Lucas Reagent. In the light of the above statements, choose the most appropriate answer from the options given below:

   • A. Both Statement I and Statement II are correct
   • B. Both Statement I and Statement II are incorrect
   • C. Statement I is correct but Statement II is incorrect
   • D. Statement I is incorrect but Statement II is correct
   Show answer

   Answer: B — Both Statement I and Statement II are incorrect

   Statement I is correct: the Lucas test uses conc. HCl + ZnCl2 (Lucas reagent) and differentiates alcohols by reactivity (rate of turbidity formation). Statement II is incorrect: it is tertiary alcohols that react immediately at room temperature, while primary alcohols react very slowly (need heating) with Lucas reagent.

3. Q3NEET 2021Metamerism

   The compound which shows metamerism is:

   • A. C4H10O
   • B. C5H12
   • C. C3H8O
   • D. C3H6O
   Show answer

   Answer: —

   C4H10O is applicable for homologous series ether (-O-), a bivalent functional group, and ether with minimum four carbons shows metamerism. CH3-CH2-O-CH2-CH3 and CH3-O-CH2-CH2-CH3 are metamers.

4. Q4NEET 2021Grignard Reaction

   What is the IUPAC name of the organic compound formed in the following chemical reaction? Acetone --(i) C2H5MgBr, dry Ether; (ii) H2O, H+--> Product

   • A. 2-methyl butan-2-ol
   • B. 2-methyl propan-2-ol
   • C. pentan-2-ol
   • D. pentan-3-ol
   Show answer

   Answer: —

   Acetone (CH3-CO-CH3) reacts with C2H5MgBr (Grignard reagent) then H3O+ workup to give 2-methyl butan-2-ol: CH3-C(OH)(C2H5)-CH3

Practise all 27 Alcohols, Phenols and Ethers questions with a timer

• Timed chapter test
• Score + weak topics
• Full NEET mocks & rank

Start free for 30 days

No payment, no card. Register in 2 minutes.

5. Q5NEET 2019Basicity of Ethers

   The compound that is most difficult to protonate is:

   • A. H3C-O-CH3 (dimethyl ether)
   • B. Ph-O-H (phenol)
   • C. H-O-H (water)
   • D. H3C-O-H (methanol)
   Show answer

   Answer: A — H3C-O-CH3 (dimethyl ether)

   In phenol, the lone pair on the oxygen atom is delocalised into the benzene ring through resonance, which reduces the electron density available on oxygen for protonation, making phenol the most difficult to protonate among the given options.

6. Q6NEET 2019Cumene Process

   The structure of intermediate A in the following reaction is: Cumene (isopropylbenzene) + O2 -> A, then A + H+/H2O -> Phenol + Acetone

   • A. Phenyl-O-O-CH(CH3)-CH3 structure (isopropyl peroxide attached via O-O to phenyl ring at CH)
   • B. Phenyl-CH(CH3)-CH2-O-O-H structure
   • C. Phenyl-O-CH(CH3)-CH3 structure (simple ether, no peroxide)
   • D. Phenyl-C(CH3)2-O-O-H structure (cumene hydroperoxide)
   Show answer

   Answer: C — Phenyl-O-CH(CH3)-CH3 structure (simple ether, no peroxide)

   In the cumene process, cumene reacts with O2 to form cumene hydroperoxide (intermediate A), where the tertiary C-H of the isopropyl group is converted to C-O-O-H. Acid hydrolysis of cumene hydroperoxide then gives phenol and acetone.

7. Q7NEET 2017Cleavage of ethers

   The heating of phenyl-methyl ethers with HI produces:

   • A. iodobenzene
   • B. phenol
   • C. benzene
   • D. ethyl chlorides
   Show answer

   Answer: A — iodobenzene

   In aryl-alkyl ethers like phenyl methyl ether (anisole), cleavage with HI always occurs such that the alkyl-oxygen bond breaks (since aryl-oxygen bond is stronger due to partial double bond character), giving phenol and methyl iodide.

8. Q8NEET 2017Separation techniques for isomers

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

   • A. Chromatography
   • B. Crystallisation
   • C. Steam distillation
   • D. Sublimation
   Show answer

   Answer: B — Crystallisation

   o-Nitrophenol has intramolecular hydrogen bonding, making it volatile and steam-distillable, while p-nitrophenol has intermolecular hydrogen bonding, making it less volatile. This difference allows separation of the mixture by steam distillation.

Practise all 27 Alcohols, Phenols and Ethers questions with a timer

• Timed chapter test
• Score + weak topics
• Full NEET mocks & rank

Start free for 30 days

No payment, no card. Register in 2 minutes.

9. Q9NEET 2017Acidity of substituted phenols

   Which one is the most acidic compound? (Options: phenol; p-nitrophenol; 2,4,6-trinitrophenol (picric acid); p-cresol)

   • A. Phenol
   • B. p-Nitrophenol
   • C. 2,4,6-Trinitrophenol (picric acid)
   • D. p-Cresol (4-methylphenol)
   Show answer

   Answer: B — p-Nitrophenol

   2,4,6-Trinitrophenol (picric acid) is the most acidic because the three strongly electron-withdrawing nitro groups stabilise the phenoxide ion through resonance and inductive effects far more than a single nitro group or an electron-donating methyl group.

10. Q10Classification and Nomenclature of Alcohols

    Which of the following is a secondary alcohol?

    • A. 1-Butanol
    • B. 2-Methyl-1-propanol
    • C. 2-Butanol
    • D. 2-Methyl-2-propanol
    Show answer

    Answer: B — 2-Methyl-1-propanol

    2-Butanol (CH3-CHOH-CH2-CH3) has the hydroxyl group attached to a carbon bonded to two other carbons, making it a secondary alcohol. 1-Butanol and 2-methyl-1-propanol are primary alcohols, while 2-methyl-2-propanol is a tertiary alcohol.