Explain a chemical test to distinguish between primary, secondary and tertiary alcohols.

The nature of the oxidation products of alcohols depends upon the nature of alcohol. The oxidizing agent used commonly are acidified K2Cr2O7, alkaline or acidified KMnO4or dilute HNO3

In case of primary alcohol, aldehyde and aci both have same no. of C atoms as parent alcohols have.

In case of secondary alcohols, ketone has same no. of carbon atoms but acid has lees carbon atom than alcohol and ketone.

Tertiary alcohols are not oxidized in neutral or alkaline medium, however under drastic oxidation it gives ketone and acid both having lesser number of carbon atoms that the parent alcohol.

In case of oxidation of unsymmetrical ketones, the splitting of the ketonic chain takes place according toPopff's rule,that the carbonyl group always remains attached to a smaller alkyl gp.