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.

Answered by Samuel H. Chemistry tutor

1344 Views

See similar Chemistry A Level tutors

Related Chemistry A Level answers

All answers ▸

Name an appropriate reducing agent to convert ethanal to ethanol


What are optical isomers?


Why can there be one major product and one minor product after electrophilic addition takes place across a double bond?


Can you state and explain the chemistry behind Markovnikov's rule?


We're here to help

contact us iconContact usWhatsapp logoMessage us on Whatsapptelephone icon+44 (0) 203 773 6020
Facebook logoInstagram logoLinkedIn logo

© MyTutorWeb Ltd 2013–2024

Terms & Conditions|Privacy Policy
Cookie Preferences