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medium importancemedium difficulty5 min

Ethanol

Ethanol is a simple alcohol with formula C2H5OH.

In one line: Ethanol means a two-carbon alcohol with -OH.

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Understand it

Ethanol is an important carbon compound because it contains the hydroxyl group -OH and belongs to the alcohol family. In the CBSE syllabus, students should know its structure, its use as a solvent and fuel, and its oxidation to ethanoic acid. It is a colourless liquid and mixes with water.

Example

CH3CH2OH is ethanol. It has two carbon atoms and one hydroxyl group at the end of the chain.

Rule to remember

Ethanol has the formula C2H5OH.

The key functional group is -OH.

On oxidation, ethanol can form ethanoic acid under suitable conditions.

See it worked out

Follow the example line by line, then use the same method on new questions.

Worked example

  1. 1When ethanol is oxidised gently, it can form ethanoic acid.
  2. 2This is a standard school-level example used to connect alcohols with acids.

Method you can reuse

  1. 1Write the structure or formula.
  2. 2Identify the -OH group.
  3. 3Classify the compound as an alcohol.
  4. 4Recall its common uses and oxidation product.

Sketch it in your answer

Show ethanol as CH3-CH2-OH so that the hydroxyl group is easy to identify.

Check yourself

Answer the question in your head before opening the answer.

Try it yourself

Why is ethanol placed in the alcohol family?

Think first, then show answer
Ethanol is placed in the alcohol family because it contains the hydroxyl group -OH. That group gives it the characteristic properties of alcohols.

Common wrong answer

A common wrong answer is to call ethanol an acid because it contains oxygen.

Why it loses marks: Acidity depends on the -COOH group, not just oxygen.

Don't mix this up

Students often write ethanol only as C2H6O and forget to show the -OH group clearly.

Exam tip

In answers, write both the formula and the functional group: C2H5OH, alcohol, -OH.

Ethanol diagram

Open full screen to read every label clearly.

Write it in the exam

Each point is worth about one mark. Write point 1 for a 1-mark question and keep adding points as the marks go up.

How CBSE asks it

Questions may ask for the formula, the functional group, an oxidation product, or a use of ethanol.
  1. 1

    Enough for 1 mark

    Ethanol is a simple alcohol with formula C2H5OH.

  2. 2

    Add for 2 marks

    Example: CH3CH2OH is ethanol. It has two carbon atoms and one hydroxyl group at the end of the chain.

  3. 3

    Add for 3 marks

    Ethanol is an important carbon compound because it contains the hydroxyl group -OH and belongs to the alcohol family.

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