Oxidation reactions
Reactions that result in C-H bonds in the reactant being replaced by C-O bonds in the product are classed as oxidations.
The reaction of a primary alcohol with chromic acid (H2CrO4) below shows that under milder conditions organic molecules react with oxidants to give products in which no C-C bonds are broken
Rolling your mouse over the reactant highlights the replacement of C-H bonds by C-O bonds.
primary alcohol
tertiary alcohol
secondary alcohol
Traditionally reactions with oxygen are referred to as oxidations. Thus combustion reactions are oxidations, and C-H bonds in the reactant are replaced by C-O bonds in the product CO2.
CH3CH3(g) + 3½ O2(g) → 2CO2 + 3H2O
The reaction of a primary alcohol with chromic acid (H2CrO4) below shows that under milder conditions organic molecules react with oxidants to give products in which no C-C bonds are broken
Rolling your mouse over the reactant highlights the replacement of C-H bonds by C-O bonds.The oxidant commonly used in organic chemistry is Cr(+6) as chromic acid (H2CrO4 or Cr2O72–/H+). The chromium-containing product is Cr3+.
primary alcohol
tertiary alcohol
secondary alcohol
To be oxidized to a carboxylic acid,
the carbon in the alcohol bonded to O must also be bonded to 2H.
the carbon in the alcohol bonded to O must also be bonded to 2H.
Neither tertiary nor secondary alcohols react with H2CrO4 to give carboxylic acids.