plumiAlcohols: Edexcel International GCSE Chemistry questions
Every Edexcel International GCSE Chemistry exam question on Alcohols (specification points 4.29–4.33), 2019–2025, with its mark scheme and examiner’s report.
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Calculations
Q4(a)(i)
The whole paper ↗Q4(a)(ii)
The whole paper ↗Q7(a)(i)
The whole paper ↗Q7(a)(ii)
The whole paper ↗Q7(a)(iii)
The whole paper ↗Q9(d)(i)
The whole paper ↗Q7(a)(i)
The whole paper ↗Q7(a)(ii)
The whole paper ↗Q5(b)(i)
The whole paper ↗Q5(b)(ii)
The whole paper ↗Q5(b)(iii)
The whole paper ↗Q4(a)
The whole paper ↗Q4(b)
The whole paper ↗Q4(c)(i)
The whole paper ↗Q3(a)
The whole paper ↗Q3(b)(i)
The whole paper ↗Q3(b)(ii)
The whole paper ↗Q3(c)
The whole paper ↗Q3(d)(ii)
The whole paper ↗Q4(a)(iii)
The whole paper ↗
All 60 questions on Alcohols, as a list
- June 2025, Paper 2, Q4(a)(i) (1 mark): Ethanol reacts with potassium dichromate(VI) to form ethanoic acid. Name the other reagent needed in this reaction. (1)
- June 2025, Paper 2, Q4(a)(ii) (2 marks): State the colour change that occurs when ethanol reacts with potassium dichromate(VI). (2) from to
- June 2025 (R), Paper 2, Q7(a)(i) (1 mark): Name the substance that is added that causes the fermentation of glucose solution. (1)
- June 2025 (R), Paper 2, Q7(a)(ii) (1 mark): Which temperature is most suitable for fermentation? (1) A 0 °C B 10 °C C 30 °C D 100 °C
- June 2025 (R), Paper 2, Q7(a)(iii) (2 marks): Explain why fermentation is done in the absence of air. (2)
- November 2024, Paper 1, Q9(d)(i) (1 mark): Complete the equation for the incomplete combustion of butanol. (1)
- November 2024, Paper 2, Q7(a)(i) (1 mark): Name alcohol A. (1)
- November 2024, Paper 2, Q7(a)(ii) (1 mark): Draw the displayed formula of alcohol A. (1)
- June 2024, Paper 2, Q5(b)(i) (1 mark): Give the formula of the other reagent. (1)
- June 2024, Paper 2, Q5(b)(ii) (2 marks): Give the colour change that occurs during the reaction. (2) from to
- June 2024, Paper 2, Q5(b)(iii) (2 marks): Draw the displayed formula for methanol and for methanoic acid in the boxes. (2) methanol methanoic acid
- June 2024 (R), Paper 2, Q4(a) (2 marks): Fermentation needs to be done in the absence of air. Give two other conditions needed for fermentation. (2) 1 2
- June 2024 (R), Paper 2, Q4(b) (2 marks): Explain why fermentation needs to be done in the absence of air. (2)
- June 2024 (R), Paper 2, Q4(c)(i) (1 mark): Complete the equation for fermentation. (1) C6H12O6 → 2C2H5OH + 2
- June 2023, Paper 2, Q3(a) (2 marks): Complete the equation for fermentation. (2) C6H12O6 → +
- June 2023, Paper 2, Q3(b)(i) (3 marks): Complete the table by giving the missing information. (3)
- June 2023, Paper 2, Q3(b)(ii) (4 marks): Explain one advantage and one disadvantage of using fermentation rather than hydration to produce ethanol. You should use information from the table to help you
- June 2023, Paper 2, Q3(c) (2 marks): Explain why fermentation needs to occur in the absence of air. (2)
- June 2023, Paper 2, Q3(d)(ii) (1 mark): Draw the displayed formula of propanol. (1)
- January 2023 (R), Paper 2, Q4(a)(iii) (1 mark): Name the homologous series that contains compounds P, Q and R. (1)
- January 2023 (R), Paper 2, Q4(a)(iv) (1 mark): Give the name of compound Q. (1)
- June 2022 (R), Paper 2, Q5(a)(i) (1 mark): Write a word equation for this reaction. (1)
- June 2022 (R), Paper 2, Q5(a)(ii) (1 mark): State the substance that needs to be added for the reaction to occur. (1)
- June 2022 (R), Paper 2, Q5(a)(iii) (2 marks): State two conditions needed for this reaction. (2) 1 2
- January 2022, Paper 2, Q1(c)(i) (2 marks): State the temperature and pressure used in this reaction. (2) temperature pressure
- January 2022, Paper 2, Q1(c)(ii) (1 mark): Give the molecular formula of ethanol. (1)
- January 2022 (R), Paper 2, Q4(b)(i) (2 marks): Give the names of the two reagents used in this oxidation reaction. (2) 1 2
- January 2022 (R), Paper 2, Q4(b)(ii) (1 mark): Which of these colour changes occurs during the reaction? (1) A green to orange B orange to green C red to yellow D yellow to red
- November 2021, Paper 2, Q6(a) (1 mark): Ethanol can be manufactured by reacting ethene with steam in the presence of a phosphoric acid catalyst. Which row gives the correct conditions of temperature a
- November 2021, Paper 2, Q6(b) (1 mark): Give the displayed formula of butanol. (1)
- June 2021, Paper 2, Q5(b)(i) (1 mark): Give the formula of the other reagent. (1)
- June 2021, Paper 2, Q5(b)(ii) (2 marks): State the colour change that occurs during this oxidation reaction. (2) from to
- June 2021, Paper 2, Q5(b)(iii) (2 marks): Draw the displayed formulae for ethanol and ethanoic acid in the boxes. (2) ethanol ethanoic acid
- June 2021, Paper 2, Q5(c)(i) (6 marks): Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of these two methods, using information from the table. (6)
- June 2021, Paper 2, Q5(c)(ii) (1 mark): The word equation for the fermentation process is glucose → ethanol + carbon dioxide Complete the chemical equation for this reaction. (1) C6H12O6 → +
- January 2021 (R), Paper 2, Q4(a) (2 marks): The table gives information about some alcohols. Alcohol Structural formula Relative formula mass methanol CH3OH 32 ethanol C2H5OH C4H9OH 74 Complete the table
- January 2021 (R), Paper 2, Q4(b)(i) (1 mark): Name the other reagent. (1)
- January 2021 (R), Paper 2, Q4(b)(ii) (1 mark): State the colour change that occurs during this reaction. (1) from to
- November 2020, Paper 2, Q4(a) (1 mark): Give the structural formula of the alcohol that contains one carbon atom. (1)
- November 2020, Paper 2, Q4(b)(i) (1 mark): Name the process that converts glucose into ethanol. (1)
- November 2020, Paper 2, Q4(b)(ii) (4 marks): Explain why this process is carried out in the absence of air and at a temperature below 40 °C. (4)
- November 2020 (R), Paper 2, Q7(a)(i) (1 mark): Name one other reactant needed for this reaction to occur. (1)
- November 2020 (R), Paper 2, Q7(a)(ii) (1 mark): Which colour change occurs during this reaction? (1) A colourless to green B green to orange C orange to colourless D orange to green
- January 2020, Paper 2, Q6(a)(i) (2 marks): State the temperature and pressure used in this manufacturing process. (2) temperature . pressure .
- January 2020, Paper 2, Q6(a)(ii) (1 mark): Draw the displayed formula of ethanol. (1)
- January 2020, Paper 2, Q6(b)(i) (2 marks): Give the chemical equation for this reaction. (2)
- January 2020 (R), Paper 2, Q7(a)(i) (1 mark): Complete the equation for the fermentation of glucose. (1) C6H12O6 o 2C2H5OH + 2
- January 2020 (R), Paper 2, Q7(a)(ii) (1 mark): State why it is necessary for fermentation to be done in the absence of air. (1)
- January 2020 (R), Paper 2, Q7(a)(iii) (2 marks): Explain why the temperature should not be higher than 40 °C. (2)
- June 2019, Paper 2, Q3(a) (2 marks): State two variables the student should control to make sure her results are valid. (2) 1 2
- June 2019, Paper 2, Q3(b) (1 mark): State why it is not safe to heat the evaporating basin directly with a Bunsen flame. (1)
- June 2019, Paper 2, Q3(c)(i) (2 marks): Calculate the mean (average) time for butanol to evaporate. (2) mean time = s
- June 2019, Paper 2, Q3(c)(ii) (2 marks): Explain how the results show which alcohol evaporates most easily. (2)
- June 2019, Paper 2, Q3(c)(iii) (2 marks): State the relationship between the number of carbon atoms in the molecule and how easily the alcohol evaporates. (2)
- June 2019, Paper 2, Q6(a)(i) (1 mark): Name the substance that is added to the sugar solution that causes glucose to ferment. (1)
- June 2019, Paper 2, Q6(a)(ii) (1 mark): Which temperature is the most suitable for fermentation? (1) A 0°C B 10°C C 30°C D 80°C
- June 2019, Paper 2, Q6(a)(iii) (2 marks): Explain why fermentation is done in the absence of air. (2)
- June 2019, Paper 2, Q6(b)(ii) (2 marks): Write a chemical equation for the complete combustion of ethanol in air. (2)
- June 2019, Paper 2, Q6(c) (2 marks): Ethanol is also manufactured by reacting steam with ethene, C2H4 The equation for this reaction is C2H4(g) + H2O(g) → C2H5OH(g) State the conditions of temperat
- June 2019, Paper 2, Q6(d)(i) (1 mark): State the colour change that occurs in the potassium dichromate(VI) during this reaction. (1) from to
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