See image — Alcohols Phenols and Ethers Chemistry Question

💡 Solution & Explanation

Concept: Oxidation of alcohols using chromium-based oxidizing agents. CrO3/H2SO4 (also known as Jones' reagent when dissolved in acetone, or simply chromic acid) is a strong oxidizing agent used for oxidizing alcohols. Step 1: Identify the substrate. A secondary alcohol (2° OH) has the hydroxyl group attached to a carbon bearing two other carbon substituents (R-CH(OH)-R'). Step 2: Determine the oxidation product. Primary alcohols (1° OH) are oxidized to aldehydes and then further to carboxylic acids by strong oxidants. Secondary alcohols (2° OH) are oxidized to ketones because the carbon bearing the OH has two carbon groups; after removal of two hydrogens (one from OH and one from the carbon), a C=O double bond forms between two carbon groups, yielding a ketone. Step 3: Why other options fail. (a) Aldehyde: formed from oxidation of primary alcohols, not secondary. (b) Carboxylic acid: formed from further oxidation of primary alcohols or aldehydes; secondary alcohols cannot be oxidized to carboxylic acids under normal conditions without C-C bond cleavage. (c) Ester: esters are not formed by direct oxidation of alcohols with CrO3/H2SO4. Step 4: Conclusion. The oxidation of a secondary alcohol with CrO3/H2SO4 yields a ketone. Therefore, the correct answer is D.