How far can each alcohol be oxidised?
"How far can each alcohol be oxidised?" is a free, interactive Class 12 Chemistry simulation for NEET and JEE, built on the lesson "Oxidation of alcohols" in Alcohols, Phenols and Ethers. Oxidation removes one H from –OH and one from the carbon holding it, forming C=O. Count the green H atoms on that carbon for each class, then see how far the reagent takes it up the ladder. Two H on the –OH carbon (1°): aldehyde, then acid. One H (2°): ketone. None (3°): no oxidation under mild conditions; over Cu at 573 K it dehydrates to an alkene. JEE Main asked 34 questions from this chapter across the 42 shifts Lumi has analysed (2017–2026).
From the lesson Oxidation of alcohols in Alcohols, Phenols and Ethers. Change the values and watch what happens.
In JEE Main
42 shifts analysed
34 questions from Alcohols, Phenols and Ethers across the 42 JEE Main shifts Lumi has analysed (2017–2026).
The idea behind it
NCERT §7.4.4
- Oxidising an alcohol forms a C=O bond and removes an O–H and a C–H hydrogen together, so it is also called dehydrogenation.
- A primary alcohol is oxidised first to an aldehyde and then to a carboxylic acid. Strong oxidising agents such as acidified potassium permanganate take it straight through to the acid.
- To stop at the aldehyde, anhydrous CrO₃ is used. Pyridinium chlorochromate (PCC), a complex of CrO₃ with pyridine and HCl, gives the aldehyde in better yield.
- A secondary alcohol is oxidised by chromium trioxide (CrO₃, chromic anhydride) to a ketone, which resists further mild oxidation.
- A tertiary alcohol has no hydrogen on the –OH carbon and is not oxidised under these conditions. Under strong conditions such as KMnO₄ with heat, C–C bonds break and a mixture of acids with fewer carbons forms.
- Passing alcohol vapour over heated copper at 573 K dehydrogenates primary and secondary alcohols to aldehydes and ketones, while tertiary alcohols are dehydrated to alkenes.
- In the body methanol is oxidised to methanal and then to methanoic acid, which can cause blindness and death. Treatment is an intravenous infusion of diluted ethanol, which keeps the enzyme busy so the kidneys can excrete the methanol.
Questions
3 answers
- What does the "How far can each alcohol be oxidised?" simulation show?
- Oxidation removes one H from –OH and one from the carbon holding it, forming C=O. Count the green H atoms on that carbon for each class, then see how far the reagent takes it up the ladder.
- Does JEE Main ask questions from Alcohols, Phenols and Ethers?
- Yes. JEE Main asked 34 questions from this chapter across the 42 shifts Lumi has analysed (2017–2026).
- Is this simulation free?
- Yes. It is free and runs in the browser on a phone or a laptop. It belongs to the lesson "Oxidation of alcohols" in Alcohols, Phenols and Ethers (Class 12 Chemistry).
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