Reactions that result in products where one or more carbons has more bonds to hydrogen are classed as reductions.
Reactions that result in additional carbon-oxygen bonds at one or more carbons in the product are classed as oxidations. The oxidant common for organic chemistry is Cr(+6). One source of Cr(+6) is K2Cr2O7 in acid solution. The chromium-containing product is Cr3+(aq).
secondary alcohol
aldehyde
primary alcohol
Intermediate aldehyde product can be isolated if distilled from reaction mixture.
In order to be susceptible to oxidation, a compound must have one or more hydrogens at a carbon bonded to oxygen.
Both alkenes and alkynes can be reduced with H2.
| CH3CH=CH2 | H2 Pd catalyst | CH3CH2CH3 |
Reaction of an alkenes/alkynes with H2 can be described as either an addition or a reduction reaction.
Reactions that result in additional carbon-oxygen bonds at one or more carbons in the product are classed as oxidations. The oxidant common for organic chemistry is Cr(+6). One source of Cr(+6) is K2Cr2O7 in acid solution. The chromium-containing product is Cr3+(aq).
In each oxidation reaction, the carbon oxidised has fewer C-H bonds and more C-O bonds in the product.
Rolling your mouse over (or tappiing) each reactant highlights the change that has occurred.
Rolling your mouse over (or tappiing) each reactant highlights the change that has occurred.secondary alcohol
aldehyde
primary alcohol
Intermediate aldehyde product can be isolated if distilled from reaction mixture.
In order to be susceptible to oxidation, a compound must have one or more hydrogens at a carbon bonded to oxygen.
Thus the final product of the reactions above are not susceptible to oxidation.
Also tertiary alcohols such as shown at the right are unreactive toward simple oxidation.