Which statement correctly describes the oxidation products of primary and secondary alcohols?

Which statement correctly describes the oxidation products of primary and secondary alcohols?

• A. Primary alcohols form ketones; secondary form aldehydes.
• B. Primary alcohols form carboxylic acids; secondary form ketones.
• C. Primary alcohols form aldehydes (and then carboxylic acids with excess oxidant); secondary alcohols form ketones.
• D. Primary alcohols form alcohols; secondary form alkenes.

Answer: (C)

Oxidation behavior depends on whether the alcohol is primary or secondary. A primary alcohol is oxidized first to an aldehyde; with a strong or excess oxidizing agent, that aldehyde can be further oxidized to a carboxylic acid. A secondary alcohol, when oxidized, becomes a ketone and typically does not go on to form other products under normal conditions. This aligns with the statement: primary alcohols give aldehydes (and can become carboxylic acids if there’s excess oxidant), while secondary alcohols form ketones.

Oxidation behavior depends on whether the alcohol is primary or secondary. A primary alcohol is oxidized first to an aldehyde; with a strong or excess oxidizing agent, that aldehyde can be further oxidized to a carboxylic acid. A secondary alcohol, when oxidized, becomes a ketone and typically does not go on to form other products under normal conditions. This aligns with the statement: primary alcohols give aldehydes (and can become carboxylic acids if there’s excess oxidant), while secondary alcohols form ketones.