Victor Meyer's Test

Victor Meyer's Test

It is a test to distinguish whether a given alcohol is primary, secondary or tertiary. For the determination of this a series of reaction are done with the given sample of alcohol. This given alcohol is passed through the following series of reaction.
An alcohol which has to be distinguished is treated with Red P and Iodine gives iodoalkane. This upon reaction with AgNO2 gives nitroalkane, which on reaction with HNO2 gives different compounds for different alcohols like nitrolic acid for primary alcohol, pseudonitriol for secondary alcohol etc. These respective productions on reaction with alkali gives different coloured compounds which helps us to determine the nature of alcohol.

1. Primary Alcohol :-

2. Secondary Alcohol :-

 3. Tertiary Alcohol :-