Primary/secondary/tertiary Alcohol Test Flashcards
1
Q
How do you test wether something is a primary/secondary alcohol as opposed to a tertiary alcohol
Or an aldehyde as opposed to a ketone
A
Mix a few cm^3 of the liquid or solution with acidified potassium dichromate(VI) solution in a test tube and warm in a water bath
2
Q
Orange solution changes to green and there’s a change in smell
What are the deductions
A
Primary or secondary alcohol
Or aldehyde
Can be oxidised
3
Q
Solution remains orange
What are the deductions
A
Tertiary alcohol or ketone
Cannot be oxidised