Question

Differentiate between primary, secondary and tertiary alcohol Victor Meyer method.

Answer 1

$OH-$ group is attached with primary, secondary and tertiary alcohols with primary, secondary and tertiary carbon atoms respectively. In victor Meyer method when these alcohols are treated with $HI,AgN{O}_2$, and $NaOH$ respectively they produce red, blue and colourless solution respectively.
Victor Meyer's method : (i) The given alcohol is converted into an iodide by concentrated $HI$ or red phosphorous and iodine.
(ii) The iodide is treated with silver nitrite to form nitroalkane.
(iii) Nitroalkane is finally treated with nitroous acid $(NaN{O}_2+H_{2}S{O}_4)$and made alkaline with $KOH$
If a blood red colour is obtained, the original alcohol is primary.
If a blue colour is obtained, the alcohol is secondary.
If no colour is produced, the alcohol is tertiary.