The Student Room Group
Reply 1
:top:
Reply 2
Be careful with the alcohols.

The PCl5 test will show the presence of an -OH group, this can be confirmed as an primary OR secondary alcohol using potassium dichromate (VI) and aq.sulphuric acid (orange -> green). If you get a reaction scheme and it has the dichromate test and shows orange to green, it could be either primary or secondary alcohol, it really isnt a definitive test for either.

I'm not sure about the "aldehyde smell" either. The only time a smell can probably lead you to the type of compound is with an ester.