Final answer:
Butyl alcohols when oxidized with potassium dichromate in acid form an aldehyde. This is similar to the oxidation of ethanol, which is also a primary alcohol, resulting in acetaldehyde.
Step-by-step explanation:
When butyl alcohols react with potassium dichromate in an acidic environment, they undergo oxidation. The type of product formed depends on the class of the alcohol (primary, secondary, or tertiary). The molecular structure of butyl alcohols, which are primary, would lead to the formation of an aldehyde.
We observe a similar reaction when ethanol, a primary alcohol, is reacted with an oxidizing agent like potassium dichromate to form acetaldehyde.
Secondary alcohols, on the other hand, are oxidized to form ketones, and an example is the oxidation of isopropyl alcohol to acetone. Tertiary alcohols are generally resistant to oxidation and do not readily form aldehydes or ketones.