EXP-3 CHEM 233L
Oxidation and Reduction
Introduction: In this experiment we study the difference between reduction and oxidation .We will first convert benzophenone to benzhydrol (diphenylmethanol) a process that involves reduction. In the second part of the experiment we will reverse the process and oxidize benzylhydrol back to benzophenone the carbonyl group(Carbon-Oxygen double bond) gains a pair of hydrogens(one hydrogen on carbon and one on oxygen). In part A the reduction of carbonyl compound (ketone) was practiced to synthesize alcohol product. Ketone was reduced by a weak reducing agent sodium borohydride (NaBH4). The hydrogen of this metal hydride(hydrogen with a pair of electron) is reactive in (carbon position) carbonyl group reductions. The reaction of reduction benzophenone to benzhydrol as following:In part B alcohol (benzhydrol) was oxidized to the ketone (benzophenone) in glacial acetic acid solution by potassium dichromate K2Cr2O7. The reaction was:Table of Physical Properties:Compound Name Molecular Weight
(grams) Melting Point
(0C) Boiling Point
(0C) Density
(g/ml) Solubility Precautions
Benzophenone
White crystal 182.2214 48.5 305.4 1.11 Insoluble (

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