This key facts covers Key Facts Summary 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 8 of 13 in this topic. Use this key facts to connect the idea to the wider topic before moving on to questions and flashcards.
Topic position
Section 8 of 13
Practice
22 questions
Recall
15 flashcards
📌 Key Facts Summary
- Functional group: -OH (hydroxyl group)
- General formula: CₙH₂ₙ₊₁OH
- First four: Methanol (CH₃OH), Ethanol (C₂H₅OH), Propanol (C₃H₇OH), Butanol (C₄H₉OH)
- Solubility: Short alcohols dissolve in water — the -OH group forms strong attractions with water molecules
- Fermentation: Glucose + yeast → ethanol + CO₂ (renewable, slow)
- Hydration: Ethene + steam → ethanol (industrial, fast, H₃PO₄ catalyst)
- Combustion: Burns cleanly to give CO₂ + H₂O
- Oxidation: Alcohols → carboxylic acids
Keep building this topic
Read this section alongside the surrounding pages in Alcohols. That gives you the full topic sequence instead of a single isolated revision point.
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.
Quick Recall Flashcards
22 questions on Alcohols — practise free
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