Final answer:
Jones reagent oxidizes primary alcohols to aldehydes, which can further oxidize to carboxylic acids, while secondary alcohols are oxidized to ketones.
Step-by-step explanation:
The effect of oxidizing agents like Jones reagent on alcohols depends on the type of alcohol involved. Primary alcohols are initially oxidized to form aldehydes, which can further undergo oxidation to become carboxylic acids. In contrast, secondary alcohols are oxidized to form ketones and they do not undergo further oxidation under these conditions. An example of this oxidation process is ethanol being oxidized to acetaldehyde and eventually to acetic acid. Tertiary alcohols, on the other hand, are resistant to oxidation by agents like Jones reagent. For instance: Primary alcohol (Ethanol) → Aldehyde (Acetaldehyde) → Carboxylic acid (Acetic acid). Secondary alcohol (Isopropyl alcohol) → Ketone (Acetone)
In summary, the effect of oxidizing agents on primary and secondary alcohols is to increase their oxidation state by adding oxygen or removing hydrogen atoms, resulting in different products based on the type of alcohol.