Oxidation of Alcohols

• Test to distinguish between isomers of alcohols ( 1°, 2°, 3° )

  Add acidified potassium dichromate.

  1° & 2°: Orange dichromate Ion ( Cr2O7) Reduces to green Cr3+ Ion.
• Results of adding Acidified Potassium Dichromate solution to 1°,2°,3° alcohols.

  1,2°: The orange dichromate ion (Cr2O7^2+) reduces to the green Cr3+ ion.

  3°: Remains green. Is not reduced.
• Why can a tertiary alcohol not be reduced?

  There Are no hydrogen atoms bonded to the carbon with the -OH group.