Oxidation of Alcohols
The conversion of alcohols to carbonyl compounds or carboxylic acids by removal of hydrogen.
Formula / equation
R–CH₂OH → RCHO → RCOOH
Unit
Dimensionless
In depth
Primary alcohols oxidise to aldehydes and then, unless the aldehyde is distilled off immediately, on to carboxylic acids. Secondary alcohols stop at the ketone, and tertiary alcohols resist oxidation entirely because they have no hydrogen on the carbinol carbon.
Examples in the real world
Acidified dichromate turning orange to green with ethanol — the principle of the original breathalyser.