NEET Chemistry · Alcohols, Phenols and Ethers

Ethanol (C2H5OH): structure and reactions

Study its functional group, hybridisation, geometry, NCERT chemistry, and high-yield conversions.

Open the interactive 3D molecule

Structure of Ethanol

Functional group
Alcohol (-OH)
Chapter
Alcohols, Phenols and Ethers
Hybridisation
Carbon and oxygen are sp3 hybridised
Geometry
Bent at oxygen; tetrahedral around carbon

NCERT core

The polar hydroxyl group enables hydrogen bonding. Ethanol undergoes oxidation and acid-catalysed dehydration.

NEET exam focus

For NEET, learn the NCERT statement, reagent, condition, reaction type, and direct product associated with Ethanol.

Reactions involving Ethanol

EtheneC2H4
H2O / H+
Ethanol

Electrophilic addition · Acid-catalysed hydration

Aqueous KOH
Ethanol

Nucleophilic substitution · Heat

EthanolC2H5OH
Concentrated H2SO4
Ethene

Dehydration / elimination · 443 K

EthanolC2H5OH
Heated copper
Ethanal

Dehydrogenation · 573 K