Alcohols, Phenols and Ethers
Free NCERT-aligned study resource for the 2026–27 academic session.
CBSE weightage: 6 marks. This unit is part of the official 70-mark Chemistry theory course for 2026–27. citeturn0search11
1. What You Need to Learn
Preparation and properties of alcohols; phenols; ethers; acidity; dehydration; substitution; important reactions and uses.
2. Core Concepts & Formulae
Alcohols can undergo oxidation, dehydration and substitution. Phenol is more acidic than an alcohol because its conjugate base is resonance-stabilised. Ethers undergo cleavage with strong hydrogen halides under suitable conditions. Know characteristic reactions such as Kolbe reaction, Reimer–Tiemann reaction and Williamson ether synthesis.
3. Common Mistakes
Do not treat all alcohols as having identical oxidation products. Primary, secondary and tertiary alcohols behave differently. For phenol, connect acidity and electrophilic substitution to resonance and the –OH group.
4. Exam-Focused Practice
- Predict products of oxidation and dehydration.
- Compare acidity of phenol and ethanol.
- Write Williamson ether synthesis and explain its limitation with tertiary halides.
- Practise major electrophilic substitution products of phenol.
5. Quick Revision Checklist
- Can you define the key terms without looking at the book?
- Can you explain the main trend/reaction/mechanism with a reason?
- Can you solve a numerical or predict a product independently?
- Can you answer an application or competency-based question?