What Does Chromic Acid Do to an Alcohol

Chromic acid oxidizes primary alcohols to carboxylic acids, and it oxidizes secondary alcohols to ketones. Tertiary alcohols do not react with chromic acid under mild conditions.

Does ethanol react with chromic acid?

In the first step of the reaction, ethanol reacts with chromic acid to form what’s called a chromate ester. Once the chromate ester is formed, it then breaks down by reaction with a base to form an aldehyde.

What does CrO3 do to an alcohol?

Formation of Aldehydes using PCC Similar to or the same as: CrO3 and pyridine (the Collins reagent) will also oxidize primary alcohols to aldehydes.