Topic 6 Flashcards
what is a primary alcohol
1 carbon attached to the carbon bonded to the OH group
what is a secondary alcohol
2 carbons attached to the carbon bonded to the OH group
what is a tertiary alcohol
3 carbons attached to the carbon bonded to the OH group
what can primary alcohols be oxidised to
- aldehyde
- carboxylic acids
what oxidising agent is used
potassium dichromate
how do you get the aldehyde from a primary alcohol
using distillation
how do you get the carboxylic acid from the 1 alcohol
using reflux
what can secondary alcohols be oxidised to
- ketones
can secondary alcohols be oxidised further?
no
how do you obtain a ketone
reflux secondary alcohol
can 3 alcohols be oxidised
no
why cannot 3 alcohols be oxidised
because there is no hydrogen atom bonded to the carbon with the OH group
