Primary AlcoholSecondary AlcoholTertiary Alcohol |
This is where the OH group is attached to a carbon that is only attached to 1 other carbon.
This is where the OH group is attached to a carbon that is attached to 2 other carbons.
This is where the OH group is attached to a carbon that is attached to 3 other carbons.
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The Combustion Of Alcohols |
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Oxidation Of Alcohols |
Primary alcohols can be oxidised to either a aldehyde or a carboxylic acid depending on the reaction conditions.
The conditions for making a aldehyde are heat and distillation from a primary alcohol, for the creation of a carboxylic acid heat under reflux would be used on the primary alcohol. Secondary alcohols can be oxides to ketone's using heat and acidified dicromate. Tertiary alcohols cannot be oxidised. |