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Quick question on aldehydes/ketones

Does the colour of the dichromate ions change from orange to green only when an aldehyde is oxidised to a carboxylic acid?

What about when oxidising secondary alcohols to ketones or primary alcohols to aldehydes? Do the dichromate ions change colour there as well?

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Yes, the colour changes from orange to green when a primary alcohol is oxidised to an aldehyde as well as when it's oxidised to a carboxylic acid, and also when a secondary alcohol is oxidised to a ketone. As long as it oxidises something, no matter to what extent, it will change colour, because it's getting changed in the process.
Original post by JacobAlevels
Yes, the colour changes from orange to green when a primary alcohol is oxidised to an aldehyde as well as when it's oxidised to a carboxylic acid, and also when a secondary alcohol is oxidised to a ketone. As long as it oxidises something, no matter to what extent, it will change colour, because it's getting changed in the process.


Of course! As long as there is oxidation, then there is a reduction. The chromium will always get reduced which causes the change in colour.

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