Alcohols: past paper questions

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• Question 35May/June 2026, paper 11Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  The displayed formula of an ester is shown. Which acid and which alcohol react to form this ester?

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• Question 31Oct/Nov 2025, paper 12Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  Compound X is an alcohol containing only three carbon atoms. Compound Y is an alcohol containing only four carbon atoms. Both compounds have the general formula ${\text{C}}_n{\text{H}}_{2n+1}\text{OH}$.

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• Question 34Oct/Nov 2024, paper 11Multiple choice1 mark

  How many moles of oxygen are required for the complete combustion of 2 moles of ethanol?

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• Question 37Oct/Nov 2023, paper 11Multiple choice1 mark

  Glycerol is an alcohol with three $-\mathrm{O}\mathrm{H}$ groups per molecule. What is the equation for the combustion of glycerol?

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• Question 34May/June 2026, paper 12Multiple choice1 mark

  X mol of ethanol and X mol of propan-1-ol separately undergo complete combustion at the same temperature and pressure.

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• Question 32Oct/Nov 2025, paper 12Multiple choice1 mark

  Which two compounds react together to form ${\text{CH}}_3{\text{CH}}_2{\text{COOCH}}_3$?

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• Question 35Oct/Nov 2024, paper 11Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  Two reactions are shown.

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• Question 38Oct/Nov 2023, paper 11Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  Compound X decolourises acidified aqueous potassium manganate(VII). Compound X has the empirical formula ${\mathrm{C}}_2{\mathrm{H}}_5\mathrm{O}$. Some possible structures of X are shown.

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• Question 35May/June 2026, paper 12Multiple choice1 mark

  Ethanol can be converted by bacteria into vinegar, which contains ethanoic acid. Which type of chemical reaction is caused by the bacteria?

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• Question 1Oct/Nov 2025, paper 21Structured6 marks

  Choose from the following compounds to answer the questions.

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• Question 37Oct/Nov 2024, paper 12Multiple choice1 mark

  Two statements are shown. 1 When ethanol is made from glucose by fermentation, each glucose molecule produces two molecules of ethanol. 2 When ethanoic acid is made from ethanol, the ethanol acts as a reducing agent.

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• Question 36Oct/Nov 2023, paper 12Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  Two statements are shown. 1 When ethanol is made from glucose by fermentation, each glucose molecule produces three molecules of ethanol. 2 When ethanoic acid is made from ethanol, the ethanol acts as an oxidising agent.

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• Question 36May/June 2026, paper 12Multiple choice1 mark

  An ester has the formula ${\text{C}}_2{\text{H}}_5{\text{COOC}}_2{\text{H}}_5$. Which pair of compounds would react together to form this ester?

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• Question 4Oct/Nov 2025, paper 41Essay6 marksHas a diagram

  Alcohols are used as fuels to heat water. Plan an experiment to determine which alcohol, methanol or ethanol, releases more thermal energy per gram of alcohol burned.

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• Question 37May/June 2024, paper 11Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  Ethanol is produced using either ethene or glucose as the starting material. Which row is correct?

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• Question 8Oct/Nov 2023, paper 21Structured7 marks

  Ethanoic acid is manufactured from methanol. $${\mathrm{C}\mathrm{H}}_3\mathrm{O}\mathrm{H}(\mathrm{g})+\mathrm{C}\mathrm{O}(\mathrm{g})\rightleftharpoons {\mathrm{C}\mathrm{H}}_3\mathrm{C}\mathrm{O}\mathrm{O}\mathrm{H}(\mathrm{g})$$ The forward reaction is exothermic.

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• Question 8May/June 2026, paper 21Structured9 marks

  This question is about alcohols. Describe the manufacture of ethanol from ethene.

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• Question 32May/June 2025, paper 11Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  Which compound is an alcohol?

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• Question 36May/June 2024, paper 12Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  Which row shows the minimum number of moles of oxygen needed for the complete combustion of 1 mole of the named alcohol?

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• Question 1Oct/Nov 2023, paper 22Structured5 marks

  Choose from the list of compounds to answer these questions. ammonia ethanol glucose magnesium chloride magnesium oxide methane nitrogen dioxide phosphorus(V) chloride poly(ethene) sodium bromide water Each compound may be used once, more than once or not at all.

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• Question 8May/June 2026, paper 22Structured9 marks

  This question is about carboxylic acids. Vinegar is an aqueous solution containing ethanoic acid. During the production of vinegar, ethanoic acid is formed from ethanol.

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• Question 32May/June 2025, paper 12Multiple choice1 mark

  Compound P is an alcohol with the molecular formula ${\text{C}}_4{\text{H}}_{10}\text{O}$. How many structural isomers are there of compound P?

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• Question 8May/June 2024, paper 21Structured9 marksHas a diagram

  Fig. 8.1 is a flow diagram showing information about some organic chemical reactions.

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• Question 33May/June 2023, paper 11Multiple choice1 mark

  The structures of three compounds, W, X and Y, are shown. Which statements about these three compounds are correct?

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• Question 35May/June 2025, paper 12Multiple choice1 mark

  Which statement about members of the homologous series of alcohols is correct?

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• Question 8May/June 2024, paper 22Structured9 marksHas a diagram

  Fig. 8.1 is a flow diagram showing information about some organic chemical reactions. Draw the displayed formula of compound A.

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• Question 37May/June 2023, paper 11Multiple choice1 mark

  Hexan-3-ol is an alcohol.

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• Question 4May/June 2025, paper 21Structured12 marks

  Ethanol, ${\mathrm{C}}_2{\mathrm{H}}_5\mathrm{O}\mathrm{H}$, is a member of the homologous series of alcohols. Give the general formula of the homologous series of alcohols.

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• Question 37May/June 2023, paper 12Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  The structure of an ester is shown. Which two compounds react to form this ester?

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• Question 8May/June 2025, paper 22Structured10 marksHas a diagram

  Fig. 8.1 shows the displayed formula of compound A. Compound A is both a saturated alcohol and a saturated ester. Explain why compound A is saturated.

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