Question Bank

Organic Chemistry III

1. Briefly describe how methanol is prepared, starting from water gas.
Ans. Water gas [H2 + CO] is mixed with equal volume of hydrogen gas
and then passed over heated catalyst [Cr2O3 or ZnO],
maintained at 350C, when the following reaction takes place with
the formation of methanol.
Zno + Cr2O3
[CO + H2] + H2 350C
CH3OH
Water gas
2. Starting from ethene how can you prepare ethanol? Write conditions
and relevant chemical equations. [3]
Ans. Ethene gas at 30 atmospheres and conc. sulphuric acid at 80C is
taken then the following reaction takes place with the formation of
ethyl hydrogen sulphate.
C2H4 + H2SO4 30atmos80C
C2H5 . HSO4
The ethyl hydrogen sulphate so formed is boiled with water, when
hydrolysis takes place with the formation of ethanol.
C2H4 H2SO4 + H2O boiled
C2H5OH + H2SO4
3. Starting from sugar/molasses, how ethanol is prepared
industrially? [3]
Ans. Sugar/molasses is dissolved in water to obtain 20% solution. To this
solution added small amount of conc. sulphuric acid, so as to prevent
the bacterial invertase and zymase. The mixture is allowed to ferment
for two weeks at a tamperature of 40C, when the following reaction
takes place with the formation of ethanol.
(i) C12H22O11 + H2O invertase
in yeast
C6H12O6 + C6H12O6
cane sugar/molasses Glucose Fructose
(ii) C6H12O6
Zymase
in yeast
2C2H5OH + 2CO2

Chemistry Class-X 1 Question Bank

 4. By writing chemical equations and experimental conditions, state
how (i) sodium (ii) acidified potassium dichromate and
(iii) acetic acid react with (a) methyl alcohol (b) ethyl alcohol. [2 marks each]
Ans. (a) Reactions of methyl alcohol
(i) Sodium metal reacts with methyl alcohol at room
temperature to form sodium methoxide and hydrogen gas.
2CH3OH + 2Na 2CH3ONa + H2
(ii) Acidified potassium dichromate solution oxidises methanol to
(1) formaldehyde and then (2) formic acid.
(1) CH3OH + [O] acidified
K 2Cr2O7
HCHO + H2O
(formaldehyde)
(2) HCHO + [O]
HCOOH
acidified
K 2Cr2O7
(formic acid)
(iii) Acetic acid reacts with methyl alcohol in the presence of
conc. sulphuric acid on boiling to form methyl acetate.
CH3OH + CH3COOH H 2SO 4
boiling
CH3COOCH3 + H2O
methyl acetate
(b) Reactions of ethyl alcohol
(i) Sodium metal reacts with ethyl alcohol at room
temperature to form sodium ethoxide and hydrogen gas.
2C2H5OH + 2Na 2C2H5ONa + H2
(ii) Acidified potassium dichromonate solution oxides
ethanol to (1) acetaldehyde and then (2) acetic acid.
C2H5OH + [O] acidified
K 2Cr2O7
CH3CHO + H2O
acetaldehyde
CH3CHO + [O]
CH3COOH
acidified
K 2Cr2O7

(acetic acid)
(iii) Acetic acid reacts with ethyl alcohol in the presence of
conc. sulphuric acid on boiling to form ethyl acetate.
C2H5OH + CH3COOH H 2SO 4
boiling
CH3COOC2H5 + H2O

Chemistry Class-X 2 Question Bank

 5. State four industrial uses of ethyl alcohol. [2]
Ans. Uses
(a) Ethyl alcohol is used as a solvent for dyes, drugs, waxes, etc.
(b) It is used for making tinctures and pharmaceutical preparations.
(c) It is used for preserving biological specimens.
(d) It is used for wood polishing.
6. What is spurious liquor? What makes it harmful? [2]
Ans. Ethyl alcohol containing harmful or poisonous substances which,
if used for drinking can kill or does very serious damage to liver,
kidneys, eyes, etc., is called spurious liquor.
Spurious liquor can have methyl alcohol; pyridine; acetone;
acetaldehyde; etc. as impurities. These impurities can damage
eye-sight, kidneys, liver, etc. They can even kill.
7. How the following can be converted into acetic acid?
(i) acetaldehyde (ii) Ethyl acetate [4]
Ans. (i) When acetaldehyde is oxidised with acidified potassium
dichromate or alkaline potassium permanganate, it forms
acetic acid.
CH3CHO + [O] acidified
K 2Cr2O7
CH3COOH
(ii) When ethyl acetate is hydrolysed with water in the presence
of conc. sulphuric acid, the reaction takes place on boiling with
formation of acetic acid.
CH3COOC2H5 + H2O H 2SO 4
CH3COOH + C2H5OH
8. Give the IUPAC name of acetic acid. [1]
Ans. IUPAC name of acetic acid is Ethanoic acid.
9. An organic compound A has a molecular formula C2H4O2 and is
acidic in nature. On heating with ethyl alcohol and conc. H2SO4,
vapours with pleasant fruity smell are given out. What is compound
A and what is the chemical equation involved in the reaction. [2]
Ans. Compound A is ethanoic acid.
CH3COOH + C2H5OH conc. H 2SO 4
CH3COOC2H5 + H2O

Chemistry Class-X 3 Question Bank

10. Fill the blank space with suitable word :
The organic acid present in vinegar is _______________. [1]
Ans. The organic acid present in vinegar is ethanoic acid.
11. Write two tests to demonstrate that ethanoic acid is acidic in nature. [2]
Ans. (i) When dilute ethanoic acid is treated with magnesium, it gives
a colourless gas, hydrogen which burns with a pop sound.
2CH3COOH + Mg (CH3COO)2Mg + H2 (g)
(ii) When dilute ethanoic acid is treated with sodium carbonate,
it gives carbon dioxide gas, which turns lime water milky.
Na2CO3 + 2CH3COOH 2CH3COONa + CO2 (g) + H2O
12. What do you understand by the term estetrification. [1]
Ans. When an alcohol reacts with carboxylic acid in the presence of
conc. H2SO4 so as to form a compound and water, the chemical
reaction which takes place is called esterification and the compound
formed is called ester.
13. What do you understand by the term decarboxylation? Support
your answer with an example. [3]
Ans. The process of removal of COOH group from an alkanoic acid is
called decarboxylation.
Example :
(i) Ethanoic acid is neutralised with sodium hydroxide to obtain
sodium ethanoate.
CH3COOH + NaOH CH3COONa + H2O
(ii) Sodium ethanoate is mixed with soda lime and heated,
then COOH group is removed with formation of methane.
CH3COONa + NaOH CaO Heat
CH4 + Na2CO3

Chemistry Class-X 4 Question Bank