BRAINCAKEOxidation Reactions of Alcohols
Alcohols can be oxidised by warming them with acidified potassium dichromate(VI), K2Cr2O7 in dilute sulfuric acid. In equations the oxidising agent is written as [O]. As the alcohol is oxidised, the orange dichromate(VI) ions, Cr2O72-, are reduced to green chromium(III) ions, Cr3+.
Primary alcohols are oxidised first to an aldehyde and then to a carboxylic acid. To obtain the aldehyde, use excess alcohol and distil the aldehyde off as soon as it forms, so it cannot be oxidised further.
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Key terms in this lesson
- aldehyde
- An organic compound containing the -CHO group, in which a carbon-oxygen double bond lies at the end of the carbon chain.
- ketone
- An organic compound containing a C=O group bonded to two carbon atoms within the chain.
- carboxylic acid
- An organic compound containing the -COOH functional group.
More in Alcohols
- Classifying Alcohols
- Reactions of Alcohols
- Conversion to Halogenoalkanes
- Dehydration
- Purification by Simple Distillation
- Fractional Distillation
- Solvent Extraction
- Drying
All 16 lessons in Alcohols · All Edexcel AS-level Chemistry topics