Playbook
Alcohols, Phenols and Ethers
126 q - 3.04/paper - 5% HARD. The heaviest organic chapter, and more than half of it is naming and classifying.
- Questions in the bank
- 126
- q/paper (2024–25 papers)
- 3.04
- Tagged HARD
- 5%
- Subtopics
- 6
Strand: Reactions
When you’ll see it
An –OH on a chain or a ring, an ether, a name to give or read, or a test that tells primary, secondary and tertiary apart.
How this chapter is tested
126 q at 3.04 a paper, 5% HARD — the heaviest organic chapter. More than half is naming and classifying: IUPAC and common nomenclature is 34 questions and classification 21 — primary, secondary, tertiary, allylic, benzylic, vinylic, and the named phenols (catechol, resorcinol, quinol).
The reaction pages add Lucas' test (tertiary turns cloudy at once), Reimer–Tiemann (phenol → salicylaldehyde), Kolbe (phenol → salicylic acid), Williamson's ether synthesis, and phenol's acidity, raised by electron-withdrawing groups.
The sub-skills
The distinct skills inside the chapter, in the order to learn them.
Classifying alcohols
By the carbon carrying –OH: bonded to one, two or three carbons. Allylic and benzylic are next to C=C or a ring.
Naming
Longest chain with the –OH, lowest locant to it; ethers named as alkoxyalkanes.
Named reactions
Lucas, Reimer–Tiemann, Kolbe, Williamson, and dehydration to an alkene.
Acidity
Phenol > water > alcohol; nitro groups raise phenol's acidity, methyl groups lower it.
Traps to expect
Distractor shapes this chapter reuses. The Traps page covers the patterns that cut across chapters.
Williamson with a tertiary halide
A tertiary halide eliminates rather than substitutes; the ether needs the alkoxide from the tertiary side and a primary halide.
The named phenols
Catechol is 1,2-, resorcinol 1,3-, quinol 1,4-benzenediol. They are asked in both directions.
Learn it before you drill it
This chapter has full teaching notes — foundations, worked examples, self-checks and a per-subtopic mastery checkpoint. Read the notes once, then drill subtopic by subtopic below.
Alcohols, Phenols and Ethers notesDrill every alcohols, phenols and ethers question
126 questions from the bank, scoped to 6 bundled subtopics.
Drill one subtopic at a time
The 6 subtopics this playbook covers, in catalog order.
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