Oxidation of alcohols

What products do you get if you burn alcohol in excess oxygen?

* Carbon dioxide
* Water

What happens when you oxidise a primary alcohol?

Primary alcohol → Aldehyde → Carboxylic acid

What happens when you oxidise a secondary alcohol?

Secondary alcohol → Ketones

How do you get an aldehyde from a primary alcohol?

* Gently heat excess alcohol with a controlled amount of oxidising agent in distillation apparatus.
* This will mean that the aldehyde (which boils at a lower temperature that the alcohol) is distilled off immediately·

How do you get a carboxylic acid from an alcohol?

* Vigorously oxidise the alcohol.
* The alcohol is mixed with excess oxidising agent and heated under reflux.

How do you get a ketone from a secondary alcohol?

Refluxing a secondary alcohol with acidified dichromate.

What is the only way to oxidise tertiary alcohols?

Burn them

Do tertiary alcohols react with potassium dichromate?

No