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Oxidation Reactions of Alcohols

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Total cards: 24•Content version: v4•Public deck•Updated: 8/1/2026

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#1
Front (Question)

what does oxidation mean in terms of these reactions

Back (Answer)

the loss of hydrogen from an alcohol molecule

#2
Front (Question)

what does oxidation affect in these reaction

Back (Answer)

one carbon atom

#3
Front (Question)

when an alcohol is oxidised, what atoms are removed from it

Back (Answer)

• the hydrogen atom from the OH group - and the hydrogen atom bonded to the carbon atom with the OH group

#4
Front (Question)

if a hydrogen from the OH group and a hydrogen from the carbon atom with the OH group are removed, what new bond is formed

Back (Answer)

a double bond between the carbon atom and the oxygen atom

#5
Front (Question)

what is an organic product that contains a C=O group

Back (Answer)

carbonyl group

#6
Front (Question)

what kind of alcohols can be oxidised in this way in order to become a carbonyl group containing molecule and why

Back (Answer)

• primary and secondary alcohols can be oxidised this way • this is because primary and secondary ones are only bonded to 1 and 2 other carbon atoms, meaning both of them are bonded to a hydrogen and OH group • this means that the oxidation can take place

#7
Front (Question)

what kind of alcohols cant be oxidised in this way in order to have a carbonyl group and why

Back (Answer)

• tertiary alcohols • because the carbon atom with the OH group would be bonded to three other carbon atoms • meaning it isnt bonded with a singular hydrogen in order for the oxidation to take place

#8
Front (Question)

what is produced when a secondary alcohol is oxidised

Back (Answer)

a homologous series called ketones

#9
Front (Question)

what is the simplified formula for a ketone and what does this refer to

Back (Answer)

• RCOR • the carbon atoms the main carbon tom is bonded to on the left and right is R • while it has a double bond with an oxygen atom in the middle

#10
Front (Question)

what is the first organic product that is produced when a primary alcohol is oxidised

Back (Answer)

a homologous series called aldehydes

#11
Front (Question)

what is the simplified formula for an aldehyde

Back (Answer)

RCHO

#12
Front (Question)

what is the product for the oxidation of aldehydes

Back (Answer)

a homologous series called carboxylic acids

#13
Front (Question)

why does this reaction even occur

Back (Answer)

• because although aldehydes are the product of the oxidation of primary alcohols • they are more easily oxidised • so they can simply oxidise further

#14
Front (Question)

what happens during the oxidation of aldehydes

Back (Answer)

• they gain an oxygen atom but dont lose a hydrogen atom - the gained oxygen atom goes between the C and H of the CHO group (from RCHO)

#15
Front (Question)

if the O goes in between the CHO group, what is the simplified formula of carboxylic acids

Back (Answer)

RCOOH

#16
Front (Question)

what therefore are the products of the oxidation of primary and secondary alcohols

Back (Answer)

• primary alcohol = aldehyde = carboxylic acid - secondary alcohol = ketone

#17
Front (Question)

what is the usual reagent for these oxidation reactions

Back (Answer)

• a mixture of potassium dichromate (V) - and sulfuric acid

#18
Front (Question)

how would you write the mixture of potassium dichromate and sulfuric acid when writing out equations and why

Back (Answer)

• you would just write [O] • which represents an oxygen atom supplied by the oxidising agent • and you write this because writing the equations with the reagents in would be too complicated

#19
Front (Question)

what colour change should be seen when the oxidising agent is used

Back (Answer)

orange to green

#20
Front (Question)

what would be the name and structural equation for the reaction between propan-1-ol and the oxidising agent

Back (Answer)

• CH3CH2CH2OH + [O] = CH3CH2CHO + H2O - called propanal

#21
Front (Question)

what would be the name and structural equation for the oxidation of propanal

Back (Answer)

• propanoic acid - CH3CH2CHO + [O] = CH3CH2COOH

#22
Front (Question)

what would be the name and structural equation for the reaction between propan-2-ol and the oxidising agent

Back (Answer)

• propanone - CH3CH(OH)CH3 + [O] = CH3COCH3 + H2O

#23
Front (Question)

what two techniques are used when trying to collect ketones, aldehydes or carboxylic acids

Back (Answer)

• heating under reflux - distillation with addition

#24
Front (Question)

when is heating under a reflux used

Back (Answer)

• when the oxidation is intended to be complete - in order to obtain a ketone or carboxylic acid