Edexcel IGCSE Chemistry

Topic questions Organic chemistry Alcohols

Alcohols

8 questions · 90 marks · about 1.5 hours

Alcohols questions

TopicAlcohols

Chemistry Paper 2 November 2024, Question 7 12 marks

Also involves Titrations

This question is about alcohols and carboxylic acids.

(a)

These are the structural formulae of alcohol A and carboxylic acid B.

Alcohol A
CH₃CH₂CH₂OH

Carboxylic acid B CH₃(CH₂)_nCOOH

(a)(i)

Name alcohol A.

[1]

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(a)(ii)

Draw the displayed formula of alcohol A.

[1]

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(a)(iii)

Carboxylic acid B has a chain of carbon atoms with no branches.

The number of CH₂ units is represented by the letter n.

Calculate the value of n.

[for carboxylic acid B, M_r = 242]

[3]

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(a)(iv)

Alcohol A and carboxylic acid B react together to form an ester.

Give the other product of the reaction.

[1]

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(b)

These are the structural formulae of dicarboxylic acid C and diol D.

Dicarboxylic acid C HOOCCH₂CH₂COOH

Diol D
HOCH₂CH₂OH

(b)(i)

This is the equation for the reaction between dicarboxylic acid C and sodium hydroxide solution.

HOOCCH₂CH₂COOH + 2NaOH maths symbol NaOOCH₂CH₂COONa + 2H₂O

25.0 cm³ of 0.150 mol/dm³ sodium hydroxide solution is completely neutralised by 17.5 cm³ of a solution of dicarboxylic acid C.

Calculate the concentration, in mol/dm³, of the solution of dicarboxylic acid C.

Give your answer to three significant figures.

concentration =_........ mol/dm

[4]

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(b)(ii)

Dicarboxylic acid C and diol D react to form a polyester.

Draw the displayed formula of the repeat unit of this polyester.

[2]

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Chemistry Paper 2 June 2024, Question 5 10 marks

Methanol, CH₃OH, is the first member of the homologous series of alcohols.

(a)

Give two characteristics of a homologous series.

[2]

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(b)

Methanol is heated with potassium dichromate(VI) and one other reagent.

The methanol is oxidised to methanoic acid, HCOOH

(b)(i)

Give the formula of the other reagent.

[1]

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(b)(ii)

Give the colour change that occurs during the reaction.

[2]

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(b)(iii)

Draw the displayed formula for methanol and for methanoic acid in the boxes.

methanol
methanoic acid

[2]

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(c)

Methanol reacts with methanoic acid to form an ester.

Complete the equation for this reaction.

$Question 5, shown as an image$

[1]

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(d)

The structural formula of an ester is CH₃COOCH₂CH₂CH₂CH₃

(d)(i)

What is the name of this ester?

$Question 5, shown as an image$

[1]

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(d)(ii)

Deduce the molecular formula of this ester.

[1]

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Chemistry Paper 2 June 2023, Question 3 15 marks

Also involves Moles and amount of substance

This question is about alcohols.

Ethanol can be manufactured using two different methods.

• hydration of ethene

• fermentation of glucose

This is the equation for hydration.

$Question 3, shown as an image$

(a)

Complete the equation for fermentation.

$Question 3, shown as an image$

[2]

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(b)

The table gives some information about the two methods.

	Hydration	Fermentation
Reagents	ethene and steam	aqueous glucose
Catalyst		enzymes in yeast
Temperature in °C	300
Pressure in atmospheres		1
Rate of process	fast	slow
Purity of product	pure	impure

(b)(i)

Complete the table by giving the missing information.

[3]

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(b)(ii)

Explain one advantage and one disadvantage of using fermentation rather than hydration to produce ethanol.

You should use information from the table to help your answer.

advantage

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(c)

disadvantage

Explain why fermentation needs to occur in the absence of air.

[2]

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(d)

Propanol has this percentage composition by mass.

C = 60.0% H = 13.3% O = 26.7%

(d)(i)

Show by calculation that the empirical formula of propanol is C₃H₈O.

[3]

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(d)(ii)

Draw the displayed formula of propanol.

[1]

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Chemistry Paper 2 January 2023 (R), Question 4 9 marks

(a)

Hand sanitiser liquids are used regularly to reduce the spread of infections.

Three compounds P, Q and R are often present in these liquids.

(a)(i)

What type of formula is shown for P?

$Question 4, shown as an image$

[1]

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(a)(ii)

Compounds P, Q and R are members of the same homologous series.

Give two properties of a homologous series.

[2]

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(a)(iii)

Name the homologous series that contains compounds P, Q and R.

[1]

(a)(iv)

Give the name of compound Q.

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(b)

Diols and dicarboxylic acids react together in polymerisation reactions to form polyesters.

(b)(i)

Explain the name given to the type of polymerisation that occurs in these reactions.

[2]

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(b)(ii)

[2]

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Chemistry Paper 2 November 2021, Question 6 11 marks

Also involves Amounts of substance in equations · Titrations · Addition polymerisation

This question is about alcohols, carboxylic acids and esters.

(a)

Ethanol can be manufactured by reacting ethene with steam in the presence of a phosphoric acid catalyst.

Which row gives the correct conditions of temperature and pressure for this reaction?

[1]

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(b)

Give the displayed formula of butanol.

[1]

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(c)

Ethanoic acid (CH₃COOH) is a carboxylic acid present in vinegar.

(c)(i)

The concentration of CH₃COOH in vinegar can be found by titration with aqueous potassium hydroxide (KOH).

The equation for the reaction is

CH₃COOH + KOH maths symbol CH₃COOK + H₂O

In a titration, a 25.0 cm³ sample of vinegar is neutralised by 45.00 cm³ of KOH solution of concentration 0.400 mol/dm³.

Calculate the concentration, in mol/dm³, of CH₃COOH in this sample of vinegar.

concentration =_........ mol/dm

[2]

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(c)(ii)

A sample of vinegar containing 0.0030 mol of CH₃COOH is poured into a flask.

Calculate the maximum volume, in cm³, of carbon dioxide gas formed at rtp when excess sodium carbonate is added to the flask.

The equation for the reaction is

$Question 6, shown as an image$

[Assume that the molar volume of carbon dioxide at rtp is 24 000 cm³]

[2]

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(d)

Alcohols react with carboxylic acids to form esters.

Which alcohol could react to form the ester ethyl propanoate?

$Question 6, shown as an image$

[1]

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(e)

Polyesters are formed in condensation polymerisation reactions between dicarboxylic acids and diols.

(e)(i)

State one difference between condensation polymerisation and addition polymerisation.

[1]

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(e)(ii)

The repeat unit of a polyester is

O O H H

$Question 6, shown as an image$

H H

Give the displayed formula of each of the two monomers needed to form this polyester.

[2]

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(e)(iii)

Give one advantage of biopolyesters.

[1]

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Chemistry Paper 2 January 2021 (R), Question 4 7 marks

This question is about alcohols, carboxylic acids and esters.

(a)

The table gives information about some alcohols.

Alcohol	Structural formula	Relative formula mass
methanol	CH₃OH	32
ethanol	C₂H₅OH
	C₄H₉OH	74

Complete the table by giving the missing information.

[2]

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(b)

Ethanol can be oxidised to ethanoic acid by heating with potassium dichromate(VI) and another reagent.

(b)(i)

Name the other reagent.

[1]

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(b)(ii)

State the colour change that occurs during this reaction.

[1]

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(c)

Alcohols react with carboxylic acids to form esters.

(c)(i)

Name the ester that forms when ethanol reacts with ethanoic acid.

[1]

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(c)(ii)

Complete the equation for the reaction between methanol and ethanoic acid.

[2]

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Chemistry Paper 2 November 2020, Question 4 15 marks

Also involves Catalysts · Enzymes and drug design

Alcohols contain the functional group —OH

(a)

Give the structural formula of the alcohol that contains one carbon atom.

[1]

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(b)

Ethanol (C₂H₅OH) is an alcohol that can be obtained from glucose (C₆H₁₂O₆).

(b)(i)

Name the process that converts glucose into ethanol.

[1]

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(b)(ii)

Explain why this process is carried out in the absence of air and at a temperature below 40 maths symbol C.

[4]

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(c)

The table gives information about some organic compounds in the same homologous series.

Compound	Molecular formula	Displayed formula
ethanoic acid	C₂H₄O₂
propanoic acid		H H O H C C C H H O H
	C₄H₈O₂	H H H O H C C C C H H H O H

(c)(i)

Complete the table by giving the missing information.

[3]

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(c)(ii)

Name the homologous series that contains these compounds.

[1]

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(d)

The compounds in the table can react with alcohols to form esters.

When preparing esters, a small amount of concentrated sulfuric acid is also used.

(d)(i)

State the purpose of the acid.

[1]

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(d)(ii)

Draw the displayed formula of the ester that forms when propanoic acid reacts with ethanol.

[2]

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(d)(iii)

Esters have particular uses that depend on their properties.

Give an example of a property and use of esters.

[2]

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Chemistry Paper 2 January 2020, Question 6 11 marks

Ethanol, C₂H₅OH, can be manufactured from ethene and steam using a phosphoric acid catalyst.

(a)(i)

State the temperature and pressure used in this manufacturing process.

[2]

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(a)(ii)

Draw the displayed formula of ethanol.

[1]

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(b)

Ethanol burns in a plentiful supply of air to form carbon dioxide and water.

(b)(i)

Give the chemical equation for this reaction.

[2]

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(b)(ii)

When the air supply is limited, incomplete combustion occurs and carbon monoxide forms.

State why carbon monoxide is poisonous to humans.

[1]

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(c)

When ethanol reacts with ethanoic acid, an ester forms.

Give the name of this ester.

[1]

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(d)

Butanedioic acid and ethanediol react together to form a polyester and water.

(d)(i)

Give the name of this type of polymerisation.

[1]

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(d)(ii)

Complete the equation.

Show only one repeat unit of the polyester.

O O

$Question 6, shown as an image$

[3]

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Alcohols

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Chemistry Paper 2 November 2024, Question 7 Chemistry Paper 2 · November 2024 · Question 7 12 marks

Chemistry Paper 2 June 2024, Question 5 Chemistry Paper 2 · June 2024 · Question 5 10 marks

Chemistry Paper 2 June 2023, Question 3 Chemistry Paper 2 · June 2023 · Question 3 15 marks

Chemistry Paper 2 January 2023 (R), Question 4 Chemistry Paper 2 · January 2023 (R) · Question 4 9 marks

Chemistry Paper 2 November 2021, Question 6 Chemistry Paper 2 · November 2021 · Question 6 11 marks

Chemistry Paper 2 January 2021 (R), Question 4 Chemistry Paper 2 · January 2021 (R) · Question 4 7 marks

Chemistry Paper 2 November 2020, Question 4 Chemistry Paper 2 · November 2020 · Question 4 15 marks

Chemistry Paper 2 January 2020, Question 6 Chemistry Paper 2 · January 2020 · Question 6 11 marks

Certified Chemistry memes. Peer-reviewed by nobody.

Chemistry Paper 2 November 2024, Question 7 12 marks

Chemistry Paper 2 June 2024, Question 5 10 marks

Chemistry Paper 2 June 2023, Question 3 15 marks

Chemistry Paper 2 January 2023 (R), Question 4 9 marks

Chemistry Paper 2 November 2021, Question 6 11 marks

Chemistry Paper 2 January 2021 (R), Question 4 7 marks

Chemistry Paper 2 November 2020, Question 4 15 marks

Chemistry Paper 2 January 2020, Question 6 11 marks