In school we did a lab where we oxidized ethanol and buthanol.Both gave vinegar after the reactions were complete.The acohols were oxidised with potassium dichromate and sulphuric acid.I have no idea what the acid is for and why did buthanol give vinegar.Can someone help me?

Thats what you get when you dont prepare for a practical. Butanol does not yield vinegar when oxidised.

can you please tell me or lead me to where i can find how the sulphuric acid contridute to oxidisation of alcohol.Becuase all i know it dehydrates the alcohol(or at least that is what i have found on the net) which makes no sense to me.

Look up Jone's reagent, and chromic acid while your at it.

 

I am quite sure that oxidation (or dehydration, for that matter) of butanol will *not* yield a compound which smells even remotely like vinegar.

 

Hit the books, do the experiment, smell the victory!

 

Cheers,

 

O3

thanx O3 for the links (and i already did the experiment just so u know.)

Potassiun dichromate wouldn't work without any acidic medium. it needs acidity to work. Why does it do so like this I have no idea.. but you can search on the internet. I hope this is what you were looking for!