How could you obtain a carboxylic acid from oxidation of an alcohol and what type of alcohol would be suitable?

Primary alcohol is the only alcohol which can fully oxidise as it first oxidises to an aldehyde and this can be further oxidised to a carboxylic acid. This is not possible with 20 alcohols as they oxidise to ketones which cannot be further oxidised due to the lack of a place for the oxygen to bond. 30 cannot oxidise whatsoever.To obtain a carboxylic acid from a primary alcohol you must add oxidising agent for example potassium dichromate (K2Cr2O7/H+ ). Then place this solution under reflux and the resulting product will be a carboxylic acid.

SH
Answered by Samuel H. Chemistry tutor

2000 Views

See similar Chemistry A Level tutors

Related Chemistry A Level answers

All answers ▸

What product would you expect to obtain when reacting ethanal (or acetaldehyde) with potassium cyanide (KCN) in dilute acid? Draw a curly arrow mechanism for this transformation, and determine whether you obtain one enantiomer or a racemic mixture.


In order to find the [H+] ion content of H2SO4 (Sulphuric Acid), why must you divide by two after using the formula for pH calculation?


How does increasing/decreasing temperature affect the equilibrium position of the following reaction: CuSO4.5H2O(s) ⇌ CuSO4(s) + H2O(l) ?


Why is the first ionisation energy lower in barium compared to calcium?


We're here to help

contact us iconContact ustelephone icon+44 (0) 203 773 6020
Facebook logoInstagram logoLinkedIn logo

MyTutor is part of the IXL family of brands:

© 2026 by IXL Learning