This exam focus covers Exam Focus: Alcohols within Alcohols for GCSE Chemistry. Revise Alcohols in Organic Chemistry for GCSE Chemistry with 22 exam-style questions and 15 flashcards. This topic appears regularly enough that it should still be part of a steady revision cycle. It is section 11 of 13 in this topic. Treat this as a marking guide for what examiners are looking for, not just a fact list.
🎯 Exam Focus: Alcohols
very-high Fermentation equation (2 marks): Must include glucose → ethanol + carbon dioxide. Don't forget the CO₂!
very-high Compare fermentation vs hydration (4 marks): Environmental impact, raw materials, speed, purity — must compare, not just describe one method.
high Functional group questions (1 mark): "-OH" — must include the dash showing it is attached to the carbon chain.
medium Carbon neutrality (2 marks): Bioethanol is approximately carbon neutral because the CO₂ released was recently absorbed by the plant crops used to make the sugar.
Edexcel 1CH0: Examined in Paper 2 (1CH0/2). Edexcel CP9 (combustion of alcohols) and CP13 (properties of alcohols) are testable — know the functional group, reactions, and fermentation. In Edexcel-style questions, the command word "Suggest" appears frequently — use your chemistry knowledge to apply to an unfamiliar context.
Practice questions for Alcohols
What is the functional group present in all alcohols?
Explain what happens when ethanol reacts with sodium metal. Include a balanced equation in your answer.