Question

Give the chemical test to distinguish between primary secondary and tertiary alcohols

Answer 1

Tertiary alcohols cannot be oxidised by the dichromate ions. ... Todistinguish between primary andsecondary alcohols you would use either Tollen's reagent or Fehlings solution. The unknown alcohol would first need to be oxidised to either the ketone or the aldehyde. Tollens or Fehlings would be added.