Question

How can you distinguish between primary,
Secondary and tertiary alcoholo ? with equation
explain how does ethyl alcohol reacts with
i) acidfied K2Cr2O7 Solutions (ii) Phosphorus pentachloride
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Answer 1

Explanation:

1. An alcohol is distinguished in primary, secondary or tertiary depending on how many carbons are attached to the carbon bearing the hydroxile. Primary alcohols have no other carbon, secondary ones have one and tertiary alcohols have two.
2. When ethanol is heated in the presence of acidified potassium dichromate, the orange dichromate is reduced to green solution of Chromium(III) ions. This reaction is an oxidation reaction and acidified potassium dichromate oxidizes ethanol to ethanoic acid.