Question

Tertiary alcohols (\[3^\circ \]) having at least four carbon atoms upon drastic oxidation yields carboxylic acid with
A. one carbon atom less
B. two carbon atoms less
C. three carbon atoms less
D. All of the above

Answer 1

Hint: Tertiary alcohols are the organic compounds in which the carbon atom to which the alcohol functional group is bonded, is bonded to the other three carbon atoms. Therefore, at least three carbon atoms are present in tertiary alcohol.

Complete step by step answer:

Let's understand what oxidation is. Oxidation is the process of adding an oxygen atom to a compound. Here, we have to understand the oxidation of tertiary alcohol. The oxidation of tertiary alcohols is not easy. But the oxidation in drastic conditions gives ketone in the first step. And in the second step, further oxidation gives carboxylic acid. The chemical reaction is shown below:

Image: Oxidation of tertiary alcohol
In the above reaction, we see that on oxidation of tertiary alcohol, first, we get a ketone which has one carbon less than the tertiary alcohol. In the second step, we get a carboxylic acid which has one less carbon atom than the ketone on further oxidation. Therefore, two carbon atoms are less in number in carboxylic acid than the tertiary alcohol.

Hence, option B is right.

Note: It is to be noted that in primary alcohol, the carbon to which the alcohol is bonded to only one carbon atom. In secondary alcohol, the alcohol-bonded carbon atom is bonded to two more carbon atoms.