BRAINCAKEOxidation of Secondary Alcohols
Secondary alcohols are oxidised by acidified potassium dichromate(VI) to ketones. The orange solution turns green.
The C-OH carbon in a secondary alcohol carries one hydrogen atom. Oxidation removes this hydrogen and the hydrogen from the -OH group, forming a C=O double bond within the chain. The oxygen from [O] combines with the two hydrogens to form water:
RCH(OH)R′ + [O] → RCOR′ + H2O
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Key terms in this lesson
- ketone
- An organic compound containing a C=O group bonded to two carbon atoms within the chain.
More in Alcohols
- Ethanol by Hydration of Ethene
- Biofuels and Carbon Neutrality
- Oxidation of Alcohols
- Oxidation of Primary Alcohols to Aldehydes and Carboxylic Acids
- Distinguishing Aldehydes and Ketones
- Dehydration of Alcohols
- Mechanism of Dehydration
- Reflux and Distillation
All 13 lessons in Alcohols · All AQA AS-level Chemistry topics