Alcohols contain the -OH functional group and are named with the suffix -ol as in ethanol or butan-1-ol.
Their structures may be classified as Primary Secondary or tertiary. This designation is decided by looking at the "alcoholic" carbon atom and counting how many other carbon atoms that is bonded to. The "alcoholic" carbon atom is the one which carries the alcohol functional group.
The principal reaction of alcohols is oxidation, effected by a number of reagents but potassium dichromate (VI) in sulphuric acid is perhaps ther most common.
This is an orange solution that will turn green [or blue/green] if the alcohol has been oxidised successfully.
Oxidation is best described as "addition of [an atom] of oxygen" or as "removal of hydrogen [with an atom of oxygen] as water".
Primatry alcohols are oxidised first to aldehydes and thence to carboxylic acids. Secondary alcohols are oxidised to ketones only and tertiary alcohols are resistant. This is because in the last group of compounds the alcoholic carbon atom does not have any hydrogen atoms attached and this is essential for the mechanism to take place.
Posted by dcox at May 18, 2010 11:51 AM