Hypothesis

The solution that reacts with potassium manganate and decolorizes indicate the
presence of an alcohol, if no change was observed then if reacted with NaOH or i2
and a yellow precipitate is observed that will indicate the presence of a tertiary
alcohol. For the two remaining solutions when they react with fehlings solution and
the one that produces a brick red precipitate indicates an aldehyde, the one where
no change is observed indicates the presence of a
ketone.
Theory
Alcohols have a general formula of CnH2n+1 and a functional group OH, Alcohols
have two reactive covalent bonds the c-o bond and the o-h bond thus it can react by
breaking any of the two bonds. Alcohols are classified by the number of carbon
atoms and the position at which the functional group (oh) is bonded; there are three
types of alcohols, primary, secondary and tertiary. Potassium manganate can
distinguish the presence of an alcohol, usually primary and secondary, tertiary
alcohols undergo no observable change, but can be further distinguish by further
reacting with NaOH or I2, this produces a yellow precipitate.
Aldehydes and ketones are carboxyl compounds. Aldehydes have at least one
hydrogen atom attached to the carboxyl carbon atom while ketones have two Rgroups (aliphatic or aromatic) attached, they are derived from their parent alkane.
Aldehydes are more reactive than ketones because C-H bond in the functional group
of aldehydes is polar. The oxidation of aldehydes using fehlings solution can
distinguish the presence of the aldehyde by observing the formation of a brown
precipitate, ketones cannot be oxidized so no observations is observed when
reacted with ffelings solution
Method
Interpretation of results
When potassium manganate is added to the three solutions and the one that
decolorizes indicates the presence of an alcohol, the potassium manganate oxidises
the alcohol, dependin on the class of alcohol the reaction with potassium differs,
when 1o alcohols react with potassium manganate the corresponding carboxylic
acid is formed and with 2o alcohols the corresponding ketone is formed both of
them decolorses the purple manganaate solution, 3o alcohols do not undergo
oxidation because they are stable thus the solution will not decolorize.
After the alcohol has been identified and felhings solution is added to the other
solutions a colour change from blue to brick red is to be observed, this indicates the
presence of an aldehyde, the aldehyde undergoes oxidation because they are
strong reducing agents, the blue copper (II) ions from the fehlings solution is

reduced to red-brick copper(i) oxide and the aldehyde is oxidized to salt of its
corresponding carboxylic acid, the other solution will remain unchanged thus
indicating the presence of a keone, no changes will be observed because ketones
have no hydrogen to be oxidized.