Answer needed for my chemistry lab discussion asap!
-
Potassium dichromate and sulfuric acid are used to prepare the Jones reagent, which is capable of oxidizing primary alcohols to carboxylic acids and secondary alcohols to ketones.
Assuming you're using 1-butanol, a Jones oxidation will give butanoic acid. If you're using 2-butanol, the product will be 2-butanone, also called methyl ethyl ketone (MEK). Oddly enough, butanoic acid has a very strong, repulsive smell, something like rotten cheese. MEK, on the other hand, smells a lot like butterscotch.
Assuming you're using 1-butanol, a Jones oxidation will give butanoic acid. If you're using 2-butanol, the product will be 2-butanone, also called methyl ethyl ketone (MEK). Oddly enough, butanoic acid has a very strong, repulsive smell, something like rotten cheese. MEK, on the other hand, smells a lot like butterscotch.
-
Google oxidation of butan-1-ol or butan-2-ol as required. You must be specific.
I wouldn't use conc H2SO4 personally for this reaction...
I wouldn't use conc H2SO4 personally for this reaction...