Video Transcript
The following equation describes the oxidation of an alcohol to an aldehyde. What is the chemical structure of compound X?
The question tells us that the provided equation describes the oxidation of an alcohol to an aldehyde represented in the equation by X. The capital O in brackets represents a generic oxidizing agent. We need to use our understanding of the oxidation of alcohols to determine the structure of compound X, an aldehyde.
Let’s start by examining the structure of the reactant alcohol. In this molecule, the hydroxy group is bonded to a carbon atom that has one alkyl substituent. So this alcohol is a primary alcohol. When a primary alcohol is oxidized, the hydrogen atom of the hydroxy group and a hydrogen atom bonded to the carbon atom adjacent to the hydroxy group are removed. To make up for this loss of bonds, a new carbon-oxygen double bond is formed. The products of this reaction are an aldehyde and water.
We can now apply what we know about the general oxidation of a primary alcohol to the alcohol given in the question. We know that during oxidation, the hydrogen atom of the hydroxy group and a hydrogen atom bonded to the carbon atom adjacent to the hydroxy group will be removed. To make up for this loss of bonds, a new carbon-oxygen double bond will be formed. From this figure, we can see that all of the atoms and bonds in the primary alcohol, which are drawn in black, will be the same in compound X, the aldehyde. To produce the aldehyde, a new carbon-oxygen double bond will be formed. The two hydrogen atoms shown in orange and the oxygen of the oxidizing agent will combine to produce the other product, water.
If we slightly adjust the orientation of the aldehyde, we can see that the chemical structure that we have drawn matches the one shown in answer choice (E). Therefore, the chemical structure of compound X formed when the primary alcohol given in the question is oxidized to an aldehyde is the structure shown in answer choice (E).
