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Type of alcohols can be distinguished using acidified potassium dichromate solution. Primary alcohols oxidise to aldehydes if distil, and carboxylic acids if reflux; secondary alcohols oxidise to ketones and don not oxidise further. Tertiary alcohols cannot be oxidised because it involves breaking a C-C bond and potassium dichromate is not a strong enough oxidising agent.
So which oxidising agent can oxidise tertiary alcohols? And what is the oxidation product?
Angel
So which oxidising agent can oxidise tertiary alcohols? And what is the oxidation product?
Angel