Final answer:
DMP (Dess-Martin periodinane) oxidizes a primary alcohol, such as ethanol, into an aldehyde, specifically acetaldehyde. Upon further oxidation, this aldehyde can then be converted to a carboxylic acid. Aldehydes are more susceptible to oxidation in aqueous environments, leading to the formation of hydrates and ultimately to carboxylic acids.
Step-by-step explanation:
When considering what DMP (Dess-Martin periodinane) will do to a primary alcohol, we first need to understand the process of oxidation. A primary alcohol, such as ethanol, has its -OH group attached to a carbon atom that is connected to only one other carbon. Upon oxidation, this primary alcohol is converted into an aldehyde. The reaction can be represented as follows:
Ethanol (a primary alcohol) CH3CH2OH to Acetaldehyde (an aldehyde) CH3CHO, with [O] indicating the oxidizing agent.
Further oxidation of the aldehyde will lead to the formation of a carboxylic acid. In the case of ethanol, the corresponding carboxylic acid would be acetic acid. However, aldehydes, when introduced to an aqueous environment can form hydrates which makes them more susceptible to further oxidation.
The oxidation of a primary alcohol first forms an aldehyde, then a carboxylic acid. On the contrary, the oxidation of an aldehyde will typically proceed to form a carboxylic acid, as aldehydes are more easily oxidized than alcohols.