Question

Write difference between primary, secondary and tertiary alcohol through Victor Meyer's method, only equations?

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 $HI$, $AgN{O}_2$, $HN{O}_2$ 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 nitrous 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.