Question

What are primary alcohols oxidized to form?

Answer 1

Primary alcohols are oxidized to form aldehydes and carboxylic acids.

Explanation:

Primary alcohols can be oxidized to either aldehydes or carboxylic acids, depending on the reaction conditions.

If you use a weak oxidizing agent like pyridinium chlorochromate (PCC) in dichloromethane, the reaction stops at the aldehyde stage.

For example,

`underbrace("CH"_3"CH"_2"CH"_2"OH")_color(red)("propan-1-ol") stackrelcolor(blue)("PCC"color(white)(mm))(→) underbrace("CH"_3"CH"_2"CHO")_color(red)("propanal")`

If you use a strong oxidizing agent like potassium dichromate in aqueous sulfuric acid, the alcohol is first oxidized to the aldehyde and then to the carboxylic acid,

`underbrace("CH"_3"CH"_2"CH"_2"CH"_2"OH")_color(red)("butan-1-ol") stackrelcolor(blue)("K"_2"Cr"_2"O"_7, "H"_2"SO"_4color(white)(mm))(→) [underbrace("CH"_3"CH"_2"CH"_2"CHO")_color(red)("butanal")] stackrelcolor(blue)("K"_2"Cr"_2"O"_7, "H"_2"SO"_4color(white)(mm))(→) underbrace("CH"_3"CH"_2"CH"_2"COOH")_color(red)("butanoic acid")`