Question

Which of the following can be oxidized by ceric ammonium nitrate.
(A) ${\left( {C{H_3}} \right)_2}CHOH$
(B) $C{H_3}C{H_3}OH$
(C) \[C{H_2}OH - C{H_2}OH\]
(D) ${*{20}{c}}
  {{H_2}N - C{H_2} - CH - C{H_2}OH} \\
  {{\text{ }}|} \\
  {{\text{ }}N{H_2}}
$

Answer 1

Hint: Ceric Ammonium Nitrate also popularly known as CAN. Ceric Ammonium Nitrate is an oxidising agent. It is used in oxidation of various organic compounds which contain the functional group like alcohol, ethers and even carbon hydrogen bonds. This compound is used to test the presence of only alcoholic groups in the given compound.

Complete answer:
There are so many tests which are used for testing the presence of alcoholic groups in the given compound. It may be the Lucas Test. We have another compound called cerium ammonium nitrate which is commonly known as CAN. This test is used to examine for the presence of either alcohols or phenols. When this agent is added to alcohol then there is a change of color. The color of solution changes to dark red which shows the presence of alcohols in the given compounds. Here in the given question we have an alcoholic group in each compound. But in case of option D we have another functional group called amine. Thus when we add ceric ammonium nitrate to:
${*{20}{c}}
  {{H_2}N - C{H_2} - CH - C{H_2}OH} \\
  {{\text{ }}|} \\
  {{\text{ }}N{H_2}}
$
Then the amine group will make a complex with the reagent. Therefore option D will not change the color since an amine group of compounds makes a complex with the ceric ammonium nitrate. While in other compounds no such other functional is present. Therefore option A, B, C will be oxidized while option D did not get oxidized.

Note:
Ceric ammonium nitrate is only used to test the presence of alcohols or ether in the compound. If some other group is present then it does not oxidize the alcohols and hence does not change the color of the solution.