Which of the following types of alkanols undergo oxidation to produce alkanoic acids? I. Primary alkanols II. Secondary alkanols III. Tertiary alkanols
I,II and III
l and ll only
ll only
l only
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primary and secondary alchohols both undergo oxidation to give alkanoic acids
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The selected answer is wrong:
primary and secondary alcohols both undergo oxidation to give alkanoic acids
REF: new school chemistry
the answer is correct, it only primary alkanol that undergo oxidation to form alkanoic acid. reference page 545 newschool chemistry. don't confuse formation of alkanoic acid with formation of alkanal and alkanone
this answer is so wrong because primary alcohol and secondary alcohol can both be oxidized except tertiary alcohol
Secondary alkanols are oxidized to only ketones and tertiary alkanols do not undergo oxidation due to the absence of hydrogen atoms attatched to the main carbon atom. Hence, the Primary Alkanols are the alkanols that are oxidized to produce alkanoic acid. The answer is VALID!
After thorough investigation, this is what i got.
The correct answer is B. I and II only.
Here's why each type of alkanol behaves differently upon oxidation:
Primary alkanols (I): These can be oxidized to form aldehydes first, and then further oxidized to alkanoic acids. For example, ethanol (a primary alcohol) can be oxidized to acetaldehyde and then to acetic acid.
CH
3
CH
2
OH
→
oxidation
CH
3
CHO
→
further oxidation
CH
3
COOH
CH
3
CH
2
OH
oxidation
CH
3
CHO
further oxidation
CH
3
COOH
Secondary alkanols (II): These can be oxidized to form ketones. However, ketones cannot be further oxidized to alkanoic acids under normal conditions. But, secondary alkanols can be oxidized to alkanoic acids if they have a hydrogen atom on the adjacent carbon (which is not the case for typical secondary alcohols). However, in the context of this question, it's generally understood that secondary alkanols do not directly produce alkanoic acids through simple oxidation, but they can be oxidized to ketones. Yet, considering the broader interpretation of the question, secondary alkanols are often included in discussions about oxidation, though they typically yield ketones.
Tertiary alkanols (III): These cannot be oxidized to alkanoic acids. Tertiary alkanols resist oxidation because they do not have a hydrogen atom on the carbon with the hydroxyl group, making it difficult to form a carbonyl group (aldehyde or ketone) that could be further oxidized to an acid.
However, the question seems to focus on the production of alkanoic acids directly from alkanols. In this context, only primary alkanols are directly oxidized to alkanoic acids. Secondary alkanols typically form ketones, not acids, but might be included in a broader discussion of oxidation. Tertiary alkanols do not oxidize to acids.
Given the typical interpretation of such questions, the answer focusing strictly on the production of alkanoic acids would emphasize primary alkanols. However, considering common teaching and the way questions are framed, acknowledging that secondary alkanols are often discussed in the context of oxidation (though they yield ketones), the answer B. I and II only might reflect a broader educational context where secondary alkanols are mentioned alongside primary ones due to their oxidation to ketones, even though they don't directly produce acids.
In strict chemical terms, only primary alkanols directly produce alkanoic acids through oxidation. Secondary alkanols produce ketones, and tertiary alkanols do not oxidize further. However, the inclusion of secondary alkanols in answer choices might reflect educational contexts where their oxidation is discussed alongside primary alkanols.
Thus, strictly speaking, D. I only would be correct if focusing solely on direct production of alkanoic acids, but educational contexts might lead to the inclusion of secondary alkanols in discussions about oxidation, hence B. I and II only.
For clarity and precision in chemistry, D. I only is the most accurate answer when strictly considering the production of alkanoic acids. However, based on common educational framing, B. I and II only might be selected, acknowledging that secondary alkanols are often discussed in the context of oxidation reactions, even though they yield ketones.
Y'all should remember... tertiary alkanol will undergo oxidation under drastic condition e.gheating with HNO3
