Alcohols and Phenols

Alcohols and Phenols MDCAT MCQs with answers

51 past paper MCQs from Chemistry unit 16, Alcohols and Phenols, across 3 topics. They are arranged topic by topic; bigger topics show a sample here and link to their full set and to study notes. Tap “Show answer” for the correct option and a short solution.

Practise as a quiz

Nomenclature, Structure and Reactivity of Alcohols

1.What is the common name of 1,2,3-propanetriol? (MDCAT 2022)

  1. butyl alcohol
  2. glycol
  3. glycerol
  4. propyl alcohol
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Correct answer: (c) glycerol

Three hydroxyl groups on a propane chain make glycerol.

2.Ethanol gives which of the following products in the presence of $\mathrm{H_2SO_4}$ at $140^\circ$C? (MDCAT 2023)

  1. ether
  2. alkene
  3. ethyl acetate
  4. aldehyde
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Correct answer: (a) ether

At $140^\circ$C two molecules of alcohol condense to diethyl ether; at $180^\circ$C the product is ethene instead.

3.The complete oxidation of a primary alcohol gives which of the following? (MDCAT 2023)

  1. aldehyde
  2. alkene
  3. carboxylic acid
  4. ketone
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Correct answer: (c) carboxylic acid

The aldehyde is only the halfway stage; oxidation carried to completion gives the acid.

All 29 Nomenclature, Structure and Reactivity of Alcohols MCQs → Nomenclature, Structure and Reactivity of Alcohols notes →

Nomenclature, Structure and Reactivity of Phenols

4.If phenol is treated with 3 moles of concentrated $\mathrm{HNO_3}$ in the presence of $\mathrm{H_2SO_4}$, what will be the product? (MDCAT 2023)

  1. o-nitrophenol
  2. p-nitrophenol
  3. o-nitrophenol and p-nitrophenol
  4. picric acid
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Correct answer: (d) picric acid

Three nitro groups enter the activated ring at positions 2, 4 and 6, giving 2,4,6-trinitrophenol, which is picric acid.

5.In a molecule of phenol, the carbon atom which is attached to -OH group is: (KMU MDCAT 2025)

  1. sp hybridized
  2. sp2 hybridized
  3. sp3 hybridized
  4. unhybridized
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Correct answer: (b) sp2 hybridized

That carbon is part of the aromatic ring, so it is sp2 hybridized.

6.Common name of 1,3 benzene diol is: (SZABMU MDCAT 2025)

  1. Pyrogallol
  2. Cresol
  3. Resorcinol
  4. Catechol
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Correct answer: (c) Resorcinol

Benzene-1,3-diol is resorcinol; the 1,2 isomer is catechol.

All 15 Nomenclature, Structure and Reactivity of Phenols MCQs → Nomenclature, Structure and Reactivity of Phenols notes →

Alcohols and Phenols Compared

7.Which of the following is correct regarding phenol? (MDCAT 2024)

  1. phenol and water are equally acidic
  2. phenol is less acidic than carboxylic acid
  3. phenol is less acidic than water
  4. phenol is less acidic than ethanol
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Correct answer: (b) phenol is less acidic than carboxylic acid

Phenol is more acidic than water and ethanol because its anion is stabilized by the ring, but weaker than a carboxylic acid.

8.Which of the following best explains why phenol reacts with aqueous NaOH, but alcohols do not? (UHS MDCAT 2025)

  1. Phenol has a lower boiling point than alcohol.
  2. Alcohols contain a strong O-H bond that cannot be broken by weak bases.
  3. Phenol form hydrogen bonding that facilitates ionization.
  4. Phenol is weakly acidic due to resonance stabilization of phenoxide ion.
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Correct answer: (d) Phenol is weakly acidic due to resonance stabilization of phenoxide ion.

The ring delocalizes the charge of the phenoxide ion, so phenol is acidic enough to give a salt with sodium hydroxide.

9.Phenol differs from ethanol because it: (SIBA MDCAT 2025)

  1. Forms stronger hydrogen bonds to its aromatic ring
  2. Is more acidic because of resonance stabilized conjugate base
  3. Readily undergoes nucleophilic substitution at the -OH group
  4. Is completely insoluble in water due to its benzene ring
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Correct answer: (b) Is more acidic because of resonance stabilized conjugate base

The ring spreads the negative charge of the phenoxide ion, which ethanol cannot do, so phenol is the stronger acid.

All 7 Alcohols and Phenols Compared MCQs → Alcohols and Phenols Compared notes →

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