What the board asks
We went through the ISC board papers, question by question, and matched each question to a topic. Here is what was asked, how often, and what was never asked.
Chemistry: 384 topics in the 2027 syllabus, across 10 units. The board has asked 252 of them at least once. 132 were never asked in the papers we checked.
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C7 Alcohols, Phenols and Ethers
All the topics in Chemistry: Alcohols, Phenols and Ethers
Asked topics first, the most asked at the top. Tap a topic to see what to write, the result, the years, and the real board questions.
51 topics shown
| # | Topic | Type | Marks | Times asked | Last asked | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alcohols from Grignard reagent: 1, 2, 3 degreeWrite the two-step equation: RMgX adds to the carbonyl compound in dry ether to give the alkoxymagnesium halide, then hydrolysis with dilute acid gives the alcohol; choose HCHO for a 1 deg, another aldehyde for a 2 deg and a ketone for a 3 deg alcohol. | Conversion | 1 | 7 papers | Specimen 2027 | Asked |
| 2 | Williamson's synthesis of ethersWrite the equation of a sodium alkoxide with a primary alkyl halide giving the ether and NaX, name the reaction, and state why a tertiary halide is not used (elimination gives an alkene). | Reaction | 1 | 7 papers | Specimen 2027 | Asked |
| 3 | Identify alcohol and its products from clues (A, B, C)From molecular formulae and test results (Lucas speed, oxidation product, Tollens or Fehling, iodoform, Cu at 573 K, Grignard addition) give the structure and name of each compound and the equation asked for. | Conversion | 2 | 6 papers | 2026 | Asked |
| 4 | Iodoform test on alcohols: which alcohols respond and whyState that alcohols with the CH3CH(OH)- group give a yellow precipitate of iodoform with I2 and NaOH, write the overall equation for ethanol, and use it to tell apart ethanol and methanol or propan-1-ol and propan-2-ol. | Tell apart (test) | 1 | 5 papers | Specimen 2027 | Asked |
| 5 | Lucas test: tell 1, 2 and 3 degree alcohols apartName the reagent (conc. HCl + anhydrous ZnCl2), give the observation for each class (turbidity at once, in about 5 minutes, none at room temperature) and use it to tell two named alcohols apart. | Tell apart (test) | 1 | 5 papers | 2026 | Asked |
| 6 | Phenol to benzene with zinc dustWrite the equation for heating phenol with zinc dust to give benzene and zinc oxide. | Reaction | 1 | 4 papers | 2026 | Asked |
| 7 | Reimer-Tiemann reaction: phenol to salicylaldehydeWrite the equation of phenol with CHCl3 and aqueous NaOH at about 340 K, show the intermediate, then acidification to salicylaldehyde; name the reaction. | Reaction | 1 | 4 papers | 2025 | Asked |
| 8 | Why phenol is more acidic than alcohols (reasons, assertion-reason)Draw the resonance structures of the phenoxide ion, explain that the negative charge is delocalised over the ring so phenoxide is more stable than alkoxide, and apply this to judge an assertion and its reason. | Give reason | 1 | 3 papers | Specimen 2027 | Asked |
| 9 | Alcohols with PCl3, PCl5 and SOCl2 (Darzens)Write balanced equations of ethanol with PCl3 (or PBr3), PCl5 and SOCl2 in pyridine, name the by-products and say why the SOCl2 method gives the purest alkyl chloride. | Reaction | 1 | 3 papers | 2026 | Asked |
| 10 | Dehydration of ethanol: ethene at 443 K, ether 413 KWrite the two equations with conc. H2SO4 and the temperature over the arrow, name both products, and state that ease of dehydration is 3 deg > 2 deg > 1 deg with the Saytzeff product for unsymmetrical alcohols. | Reaction | 1 | 3 papers | 2025 improvement | Asked |
| 11 | Phenol tests: FeCl3, azo dye; versus ethanol, benzoic acidGive the reagent and observation for the neutral FeCl3 test (violet colour) and the azo dye test (orange-red dye with benzenediazonium chloride in alkali), and use a test to tell phenol from ethanol or from benzoic acid (NaHCO3 effervescence for the acid). | Tell apart (test) | 1 | 3 papers | 2025 | Asked |
| 12 | Conversions and A, B, C chains starting from phenolWrite the sequence of equations with reagents for a two- or three-step conversion from phenol (for example through benzene with zinc dust, then nitration and reduction to aniline) and name each intermediate. | Conversion | 1 | 3 papers | 2025 improvement | Asked |
| 13 | Distinguish an alcohol from its isomeric etherGive one test with its observation for each compound: sodium metal (alcohol gives H2 effervescence, ether none), or iodoform for ethanol, or Lucas/oxidation where suitable. | Tell apart (test) | 1 | 3 papers | 2025 improvement | Asked |
| 14 | Oxidation and Cu dehydrogenation of 1, 2, 3 degree alcoholsWrite equations for oxidation with acidified K2Cr2O7 (or KMnO4) and for heating with Cu at 573 K, giving the product for each class of alcohol. | Reaction | 1 | 3 papers | 2024 | Asked |
| 15 | Boiling point and solubility of alcohols: give reasonsExplain with intermolecular hydrogen bonding why alcohols boil higher than alkanes and haloalkanes of similar mass, why boiling point rises with chain length and number of -OH groups, why branching lowers it, and why lower alcohols mix with water. | Give reason | 1 | 2 papers | Specimen 2027 | Asked |
| 16 | Boiling point and miscibility of ethers versus alcoholsExplain that ethers boil much lower than isomeric alcohols because they cannot form intermolecular hydrogen bonds, yet have similar solubility in water because they accept hydrogen bonds from water; state that diethyl ether and anisole are volatile liquids. | Give reason | 1 | 2 papers | Specimen 2027 | Asked |
| 17 | Mixed ethers with HI: which iodide forms and whyFor a mixed ether decide which alkyl iodide forms, and explain by mechanism: SN2 attack of I- on the smaller alkyl group for 1 deg/methyl ethers, SN1 through the stable carbocation when one group is tertiary; judge an assertion-reason item on it. | Give reason | 1 | 2 papers | Specimen 2027 | Asked |
| 18 | Arrange water, alcohols, phenol and haloalcohols by acidic strengthWrite the increasing or decreasing order asked and give the one-line reason for each step (+I effect of alkyl groups, -I effect of halogens, resonance in phenoxide). | Comparison | 1 | 2 papers | 2025 improvement | Asked |
| 19 | Nitration of phenol: o/p-nitrophenol and picric acidWrite the equation with dilute HNO3 at 298 K giving o- and p-nitrophenol (separated by steam distillation) and with conc. HNO3 (conc. H2SO4) giving 2,4,6-trinitrophenol (picric acid). | Reaction | 1 | 2 papers | 2025 | Asked |
| 20 | Esterification: alcohol with carboxylic acidWrite the reversible equation of the alcohol with a carboxylic acid with conc. H2SO4 over the arrow and name the ester formed. | Reaction | 1 | 2 papers | 2020 | Asked |
| 21 | Ether with PCl5Write the balanced equation of diethyl ether with PCl5 on heating giving two moles of ethyl chloride and POCl3. | Reaction | 1 | 2 papers | 2020 | Asked |
| 22 | Manufacture of phenol from cumeneWrite the two steps: air oxidation of cumene to cumene hydroperoxide, then dilute acid to phenol and acetone, naming the intermediate and the by-product. | Reaction | 1 | 1 paper | Specimen 2027 | Asked |
| 23 | Kolbe's reaction: phenol to salicylic acidWrite the equations: sodium phenoxide with CO2 at about 400 K and 4-7 atm gives sodium salicylate, which on acidification with dilute HCl gives salicylic acid; name the reaction. | Reaction | 1 | 1 paper | Specimen 2027 | Asked |
| 24 | Uses of phenolList uses of phenol: antiseptic (about 0.2 percent) and disinfectant (about 1 percent), bakelite, picric acid, dyes and drugs such as aspirin and salicylic acid. | Statement | 1 | 1 paper | Specimen 2027 | Asked |
| 25 | Ether structure, naming and alcohol-ether functional isomersWrite the general formula, describe the ethereal C-O-C group (sp3 oxygen, bent, angle a little above 109 degrees), give common and IUPAC names (alkoxyalkane), and draw the alcohol and ether isomers of a given formula. | Structure or name | 1 | 1 paper | Specimen 2027 | Asked |
| 26 | Convert one alcohol into another: ascent, descent, 1 to 2Write the step-by-step equations with reagents, for example methanol to ethanol (CH3OH -> CH3I -> CH3CN -> ... or CH3MgI + HCHO), ethanol to methanol, and propan-1-ol to propan-2-ol through propene. | Conversion | 1 | 1 paper | 2026 | Asked |
| 27 | Phenol from diazonium salt, chlorobenzene (Dow) and benzenesulphonic acidWrite the equations with conditions: warming benzenediazonium chloride with water; Dow's process (NaOH, 623 K, about 300 atm, then acid); and fusing sodium benzenesulphonate with NaOH, then acidifying. | Reaction | 1 | 1 paper | 2025 | Asked |
| 28 | Physical state and solubility of phenolState that phenol is a colourless crystalline solid that turns pink in air, and explain its limited solubility in water (hydrogen bonding of -OH against the large hydrophobic ring) compared with lower aliphatic alcohols. | Give reason | 1 | 1 paper | 2025 | Asked |
| 29 | Bromination of phenol: bromine water and Br2 in CS2Write the equation with bromine water giving a white precipitate of 2,4,6-tribromophenol, and with Br2 in CS2 at low temperature giving o- and p-bromophenol; use the mole ratio for a quantity question. | Reaction | 1 | 1 paper | 2025 improvement | Asked |
| 30 | Acidic nature of alcohols and reaction with sodiumWrite the equation of an alcohol with sodium giving the alkoxide and hydrogen, explain that alcohols are weaker acids than water, and give the reason that the +I effect of alkyl groups makes acidity fall 1 deg > 2 deg > 3 deg. | Give reason | 1 | 1 paper | 2024 | Asked |
| 31 | Ether peroxides: why ethers are not distilled to drynessWrite the equation for air oxidation of diethyl ether to a peroxide in light, and explain that the peroxide concentrates in the residue and can explode on heating. | Give reason | 1 | 1 paper | 2023 | Asked |
| 32 | Mechanism of acid dehydration of ethanolDraw the three steps with curved arrows: protonation of the alcohol, loss of water to form the carbocation (slow step), and loss of H+ to form the alkene; for ether formation show attack of a second alcohol molecule. | Mechanism | 2 | 1 paper | 2018 | Asked |
| 33 | Preparation of anisole by Williamson's synthesisWrite the equation of sodium phenoxide with methyl iodide (or phenol with NaOH, then CH3I) and explain why chlorobenzene with sodium methoxide does not give anisole. | Reaction | 1 | 1 paper | 2018 | Asked |
| 34 | Classify alcohols and name them by IUPACClassify each alcohol as monohydric, dihydric or polyhydric and as primary, secondary or tertiary, write the general formula, and give the IUPAC name with the lowest locant for the -OH carbon. | Structure or name | 1 | never | Never asked | |
| 35 | Primary, secondary, tertiary alcohols: structure, physical and chemical differencesMake a short comparison of 1, 2 and 3 degree alcohols covering structure, boiling point of isomers, ease of oxidation (product formed), Cu/573 K product and Lucas test speed, with one example each. | Comparison | 2 | never | Never asked | |
| 36 | Alcohols from alkenes: direct, indirect hydration, hydroboration-oxidationWrite the equation for each route with reagent and condition (H3PO4 or dil. H2SO4 with steam; conc. H2SO4 then boiling water; B2H6 then H2O2/NaOH) and state which gives the Markovnikov and which the anti-Markovnikov alcohol. | Reaction | 1 | never | Never asked | |
| 37 | Alcohols from alkyl halides, carbonyl compounds and primary aminesWrite three balanced equations with reagents: hydrolysis of an alkyl halide with aqueous KOH, reduction of an aldehyde or ketone (H2/Ni, LiAlH4 or NaBH4), and a primary amine with nitrous acid (NaNO2 + HCl), naming each product. | Reaction | 1 | never | Never asked | |
| 38 | Manufacture of methanol (Bosch) and ethanol (fermentation)Give an outline with equations: water gas plus extra hydrogen over ZnO-Cr2O3 at about 573-673 K and 200-300 atm for methanol; for ethanol, invertase splits sucrose and zymase ferments glucose and fructose to ethanol and CO2. | Reaction | 1 | never | Never asked | |
| 39 | Mechanism of acid-catalysed esterificationDraw the steps with curved arrows: protonation of the acid carbonyl, attack of the alcohol oxygen, proton transfer, loss of water and loss of H+ to give the ester. | Mechanism | 2 | never | Never asked | |
| 40 | Alcohols with hydrogen halides: equations and reactivity orderWrite equations of an alcohol with HCl/anhydrous ZnCl2, HBr and HI, and state the order of reactivity for the acids and for 1, 2 and 3 degree alcohols with a reason. | Reaction | 1 | never | Never asked | |
| 41 | Alcohols with acid chlorides and acid anhydridesWrite the equation for ethanol with acetyl chloride (pyridine) and with acetic anhydride, naming the ester and by-product. | Reaction | 1 | never | Never asked | |
| 42 | Uses of methanol and ethanolList two or three uses each of methanol and ethanol (solvent, fuel and power alcohol, sanitiser, beverages, antifreeze) and state why methanol is poisonous and what denatured spirit is. | Statement | 1 | never | Never asked | |
| 43 | Classify and name phenolsClassify phenols as mono-, di- or trihydric and give common and IUPAC names of phenol, cresols, catechol, resorcinol and quinol. | Structure or name | 1 | never | Never asked | |
| 44 | Phenol with sodium hydroxide and sodiumWrite balanced equations of phenol with NaOH (sodium phenoxide and water) and with sodium (sodium phenoxide and hydrogen), and say why alcohols do not react with NaOH. | Reaction | 1 | never | Never asked | |
| 45 | Phenol with acetyl chloride, acetic anhydride and PCl5Write the equations for acetylation of phenol to phenyl acetate (with pyridine or base) by acetyl chloride and by acetic anhydride, and the reaction with PCl5 giving chlorobenzene in poor yield. | Reaction | 1 | never | Never asked | |
| 46 | Sulphonation of phenol: effect of temperatureWrite the equation with conc. H2SO4 and state that the ortho acid is the main product at room temperature and the para acid at about 373 K. | Reaction | 1 | never | Never asked | |
| 47 | Why -OH activates the ring and directs ortho/paraDraw the resonance structures of phenol showing extra electron density at the ortho and para carbons, and use them to explain why phenol reacts faster than benzene and needs no catalyst for bromination. | Give reason | 1 | never | Never asked | |
| 48 | Ether with chlorine: substitution in dark and lightWrite the equations of diethyl ether with chlorine in the dark (alpha-chloro ether) and in light (perchloro diethyl ether). | Reaction | 1 | never | Never asked | |
| 49 | Ether with HI: cold and hot, excess HIWrite the equation of diethyl ether with cold HI (alcohol and alkyl iodide) and with hot excess HI (two alkyl iodides), and of anisole with HI (phenol and methyl iodide). | Reaction | 1 | never | Never asked | |
| 50 | Anisole: halogenation, nitration and Friedel-Crafts reactionsWrite equations for bromination of anisole in ethanoic acid, nitration with conc. HNO3/H2SO4, and Friedel-Crafts alkylation (CH3Cl/AlCl3) and acylation (CH3COCl/AlCl3), giving ortho and para products with para as major, and say why -OCH3 directs o/p. | Reaction | 1 | never | Never asked | |
| 51 | Uses of ethersList uses of diethyl ether (solvent, anaesthetic, refrigerant) and of anisole (perfumes, solvent, intermediate). | Statement | 1 | never | Never asked |
This list was made from the 2027 syllabus and checked with 9 board papers, including the 2027 specimen paper. It is not yet checked with the textbook.
The 10 topics Chemistry papers ask most
Counted on the board papers from 2018 to the 2027 specimen paper, which every unit has been checked against.
- 1.IUPAC names of coordination compounds from formulaC5 Coordination Compounds · asked 8 times since 2018
- 2.Faraday's first law: mass, charge, current or timeC2 Electrochemistry · asked 7 times since 2018
- 3.Give reasons: transition metal ions are coloured, some colourlessC4 d- and f-Block Elements · asked 7 times since 2018
- 4.Alcohols from Grignard reagent: 1, 2, 3 degreeC7 Alcohols, Phenols and Ethers · asked 7 times since 2018
- 5.Williamson's synthesis of ethersC7 Alcohols, Phenols and Ethers · asked 7 times since 2018
- 6.Identify A, B, C, D in a given reagent chainC8 Aldehydes, Ketones and Carboxylic Acids · asked 7 times since 2018
- 7.Identify compounds from formula and test results (case problem)C8 Aldehydes, Ketones and Carboxylic Acids · asked 7 times since 2018
- 8.Identify A, B, C: amide, Hoffmann and amine-test chainsC9 Organic Compounds containing Nitrogen · asked 7 times since 2018
- 9.Gibbs energy and maximum work from cell emfC2 Electrochemistry · asked 6 times since 2018
- 10.Coordination number and oxidation state of the central metalC5 Coordination Compounds · asked 6 times since 2018