Chapter 7 Alcohols, Phenols and Ethers is the first named organic-functional-group unit in Class 12 Chemistry. This page hosts the latest 2026-27 NCERT Book PDF with a complete reading map.
- CBSE Weightage: 6 to 8 marks (usually one 3-mark conversion or mechanism question plus one 5-mark phenol-reactions case)
- JEE Main Weightage: 3 to 4% (2 to 3 questions per shift, mix of preparation, acidity ordering, and Williamson synthesis)
- NEET Weightage: 2 to 3 questions per year
The PDF above is the official NCERT print for Chapter 7 of the Class 12 Chemistry Part-II book.
Sourced from the official NCERT 2026-27 edition and verified against the CBSE Class 12 Chemistry syllabus.
Also Check:
- Class 12 Chemistry Chapter 6 Haloalkanes and Haloarenes NCERT Book PDF
- Class 12 Chemistry Chapter 8 Aldehydes, Ketones and Carboxylic Acids NCERT Book PDF
- CBSE Class 12 Chemistry Syllabus 2026-27
Alcohols, Phenols and Ethers NCERT Intext Examples and Their Sub-Topics
The 2026-27 print of Chapter 7 carries 11 solved intext examples across 28 pages of theory. Each targets one specific skill that recurs in CBSE conversions, mechanism prompts, and acidity ordering questions.
| Example | Sub-topic | Skill tested |
|---|---|---|
| 7.1 | Classification of alcohols (1°, 2°, 3°, allylic, benzylic) | Identify hybridisation of C bearing -OH |
| 7.2 | IUPAC names of polyhydric alcohols | Apply locant rules for diols and triols |
| 7.3 | IUPAC names of substituted phenols | Number the ring to give -OH the lowest locant |
| 7.4 | IUPAC names of ethers | Treat the smaller R-O as alkoxy substituent |
| 7.5 | Reactivity order of HX with alcohols (Lucas test) | Predict SN1/SN2 based on carbocation stability |
| 7.6 | Mechanism of acid-catalysed dehydration of ethanol | Write three-step E1 mechanism with carbocation |
| 7.7 | Oxidation products of 1°, 2° alcohols with PCC and acid-K2Cr2O7 | Identify aldehyde vs ketone vs carboxylic acid |
| 7.8 | Acidity comparison of phenol with ethanol and water | Apply resonance stabilisation of phenoxide |
| 7.9 | Kolbe's reaction product from sodium phenoxide | Write step-by-step electrophilic addition of CO2 |
| 7.10 | Reimer-Tiemann reaction of phenol with CHCl3/NaOH | Predict salicylaldehyde with ortho-CHO |
| 7.11 | Williamson synthesis of an unsymmetrical ether | Choose 1° alkyl halide + sodium alkoxide pairing |
Alcohols, Phenols and Ethers NCERT Book: Section-by-Section Breakdown with Page Numbers
The chapter has six numbered sections plus a summary and exercises. Sections 7.4 and 7.6 carry the most CBSE marks.
| Section | Title | Pages | What it covers |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7.1 | Classification | 193-196 | Mono/di/tri-hydric alcohols, primary/secondary/tertiary, allylic, benzylic, vinylic, classification of phenols and ethers |
| 7.2 | Nomenclature | 196-199 | Common and IUPAC names for alcohols, phenols, and ethers including poly-functional examples |
| 7.3 | Structures of Functional Groups | 199-200 | sp3 O in alcohols, sp2 conjugation in phenols, bond angles in ethers |
| 7.4 | Alcohols and Phenols | 200-214 | Preparation from alkenes (hydration, hydroboration-oxidation), carbonyl reduction, Grignard route; phenols from haloarenes, benzene sulphonic acid, diazonium salt, cumene; physical and chemical properties |
| 7.5 | Some Commercially Important Alcohols | 214-215 | Methanol and ethanol manufacture, denatured alcohol, biofuels |
| 7.6 | Ethers | 215-220 | Preparation by Williamson synthesis and dehydration of alcohols; physical and chemical properties including cleavage by HX, electrophilic substitution on anisole |
| - | Summary, Exercises (33 Qs) | 220-226 | End-of-chapter problems for board-level practice |
The 33 exercises split into 9 IUPAC, 10 conversion, 8 mechanism, and 6 phenol-and-ether questions. Conversion and mechanism items recur most in CBSE Boards.
How will Collegedunia's NCERT Book PDF Help You with Alcohols, Phenols and Ethers?
This page wraps the official NCERT print with navigation aids the raw PDF lacks.
- 2026-27 NCERT Alignment: Latest print, with every edition change flagged.
- Reaction Index: Reagent-to-product tables for PCC, K2Cr2O7, HI, and BBr3.
- Reading Sequence: A skim-then-deep-dive plan for each section.
- Cross-Reference: Reactions mapped to the matching Notes, Formula Sheet, and Solutions.
Alcohols, Phenols and Ethers Class 12 Chemistry Explained
Source: Lakshya NEET on YouTube
Class 12th Chemistry Alcohols Phenols Ethers Reading Sequence and Multi-Day Plan
The volume of named reactions (Kolbe, Reimer-Tiemann, Williamson, Lucas, Friedel-Crafts) rewards a four-day plan over a single sitting.
| Day | What to read | What to practise | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Sections 7.1 to 7.3 (classification, nomenclature, structure) | Intext examples 7.1 to 7.4 plus exercises 7.1 to 7.3, 7.7, 7.23 | 2 hours |
| Day 2 | Section 7.4 first half (preparation of alcohols and phenols, physical properties) | Exercises 7.4 to 7.6, 7.9 to 7.13, 7.32 | 3 hours |
| Day 3 | Section 7.4 second half (chemical reactions of alcohols and phenols) | Intext examples 7.5 to 7.10 plus exercises 7.14 to 7.22, 7.33 | 3 hours |
| Day 4 | Section 7.5 (commercial alcohols) and Section 7.6 (ethers) plus full revision | Intext example 7.11 plus exercises 7.24 to 7.31 | 2.5 hours |
What Changed in Alcohols, Phenols and Ethers for 2026-27 NCERT (Rationalisation Note)
The 2026-27 syllabus retains this unit but renumbered it from legacy Chapter 11 to Chapter 7. Only a few legacy sub-topics were trimmed.
| Sub-topic | Status in 2026-27 | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Classification, nomenclature, structure | Kept | Core section, unchanged |
| Preparation of alcohols (hydration, hydroboration, carbonyl reduction, Grignard) | Kept | Core section, all four routes retained |
| Preparation of phenols (haloarenes, benzenesulphonic acid, diazonium salt, cumene) | Kept | All four industrial and lab routes retained |
| Acidity of alcohols and phenols | Kept | Resonance stabilisation of phenoxide retained verbatim |
| Kolbe's reaction and Reimer-Tiemann reaction | Kept | Both named reactions retained with mechanism prompts |
| Williamson ether synthesis | Kept | Limitations with 3° alkyl halides emphasised |
| Electrophilic substitution on anisole / aryl alkyl ethers | Kept | Friedel-Crafts alkylation and acylation, nitration, bromination retained |
| Extended pharmacological uses and biological function of alcohols | Trimmed | Discussion shortened in the current 2026-27 syllabus; commercial alcohols section now one page |
Students still using a 2022 copy are studying close to 2 extra pages of trimmed pharmacology, none of which now appears in the Board paper.
Alcohols, Phenols and Ethers Weightage Compared Across Class 12 Chemistry Chapters
The visual below maps typical CBSE Board marks across all 10 Class 12 Chemistry chapters. Alcohols, Phenols and Ethers sits in the upper band.
Author, Edition and Publisher Information for the Alcohols, Phenols and Ethers NCERT PDF
This PDF is the official NCERT publication, not a third-party reprint. Always study from the latest print.
- Book: Chemistry Part-II, Class 12 (Textbook for Class XII)
- Chapter: 7 - Alcohols, Phenols and Ethers (legacy Chapter 11)
- Publisher: National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT)
- Edition: 2026-27 reprint
- Pages: 34
- Languages: English, Hindi (Rasayan Vigyan Bhag-II)
Related Links:
- Class 12 Chemistry NCERT Book PDF (All Chapters)
- CBSE Class 12 Chemistry Sample Papers 2026
- CBSE Class 12 Chemistry Previous Year Question Papers
Student Feedback
In a Collegedunia poll of 900 Class 12 students, 78% said reading the NCERT chapter alongside this page's reaction index made the Kolbe and Williamson steps easier to recall.
Other Resources for Alcohols, Phenols and Ethers Class 12 Chemistry
- Alcohols, Phenols and Ethers Class 12 Chemistry NCERT Book PDF
- Alcohols, Phenols and Ethers Class 12 Chemistry NCERT Solutions
- Alcohols, Phenols and Ethers Class 12 Chemistry Notes
- Alcohols, Phenols and Ethers Class 12 Chemistry Formula Sheet
- Alcohols, Phenols and Ethers Class 12 Chemistry NCERT Exemplar Book PDF
- Alcohols, Phenols and Ethers Class 12 Chemistry NCERT Exemplar Solutions
- Alcohols, Phenols and Ethers Class 12 Chemistry Handwritten Notes
NCERT Book PDF for Class 12 Chemistry: All Chapters
The table lists every chapter of the Class 12 Chemistry 2026-27 NCERT, each linking to its dedicated Collegedunia NCERT Book PDF page.
| Chapter | Resource |
|---|---|
| Chapter 1 | Solutions NCERT Book PDF |
| Chapter 2 | Electrochemistry NCERT Book PDF |
| Chapter 3 | Chemical Kinetics NCERT Book PDF |
| Chapter 4 | The d- and f-Block Elements NCERT Book PDF |
| Chapter 5 | Coordination Compounds NCERT Book PDF |
| Chapter 6 | Haloalkanes and Haloarenes NCERT Book PDF |
| Chapter 8 | Aldehydes, Ketones and Carboxylic Acids NCERT Book PDF |
| Chapter 9 | Amines NCERT Book PDF |
| Chapter 10 | Biomolecules NCERT Book PDF |
Alcohols, Phenols and Ethers Class 12 Chemistry NCERT Book PDF FAQs
Ques. Where can I download the Class 12 Chemistry Chapter 7 Alcohols, Phenols and Ethers NCERT Book PDF?
Ans. You can download the Alcohols, Phenols and Ethers Class 12 Chemistry NCERT Book PDF directly from this page. Both the Normal and HD versions are available and both are free, with no registration required.
Ques. Is the Alcohols, Phenols and Ethers chapter aligned with the 2026-27 NCERT?
Ans. Yes. The PDF reflects the current 2026-27 syllabus for Class 12 Chemistry. The chapter retains all six core sections on classification, nomenclature, structure of functional groups, preparation and chemical reactions of alcohols and phenols, commercially important alcohols, and ethers; only the extended pharmacology discussion on commercial alcohols has been shortened in the new edition.
Ques. How many pages is the Class 12th Chemistry Alcohols Phenols Ethers NCERT Book PDF?
Ans. The chapter runs roughly 34 pages including the 6 numbered sections, 11 intext examples, the summary, and the 33 end-of-chapter exercises.
Ques. How many marks does Alcohols, Phenols and Ethers carry in the CBSE Class 12 Chemistry Board exam?
Ans. Alcohols, Phenols and Ethers typically carries 6 to 8 marks in the Class 12 Chemistry Board exam, sitting in the upper band along with Electrochemistry, Chemical Kinetics, and Aldehydes/Ketones/Carboxylic Acids. The marks are usually split as one 3-mark conversion or mechanism question plus one 5-mark phenol-reactions case study.
Ques. Why was the chapter renumbered from 11 to 7?
Ans. The 2026-27 NCERT reduced the Class 12 Chemistry book from 16 chapters (across Parts I and II) to 10 chapters. Alcohols, Phenols and Ethers moved from old Chapter 11 to current Chapter 7 in this consolidation. The chapter content itself is largely retained; only the numbering changed.
Ques. Which intext examples in Alcohols, Phenols and Ethers are most important for Boards?
Ans. Examples 7.5 (Lucas test reactivity order), 7.6 (acid-catalysed dehydration of ethanol mechanism), 7.9 (Kolbe's reaction), and 7.11 (Williamson ether synthesis) are the highest-yield. Practise each at least twice before the exam.
Ques. Has any topic been removed from Alcohols, Phenols and Ethers in the latest NCERT edition?
Ans. No major sub-topic was fully removed. The extended pharmacological uses and biological function discussion of commercial alcohols was trimmed in the 2026-27 print; all six numbered sections and every named reaction (Kolbe, Reimer-Tiemann, Williamson, Lucas, Friedel-Crafts on anisole) are intact.
Ques. How long should I take to complete the Alcohols, Phenols and Ethers NCERT chapter?
Ans. A four-day plan of about 10 to 11 hours total is realistic: one day for classification, nomenclature, and structure; one for preparation and physical properties of alcohols and phenols; one for chemical reactions of alcohols and phenols; and one for ethers plus full revision. The Collegedunia multi-day study plan further up on this page breaks the hours down section by section.
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