Under strong
reaction conditions such as strong oxidising agents (KMnO4) and
elevated temperatures, cleavage of various C-C bonds takes place
and a mixture of carboxylic
acids containing lesser number
of carbon atoms is formed When the vapours of a
primary or a secondary alcohol
are passed over heated copper
at 573 K, dehydrogenation
takes place and an aldehyde or
a ketone is formed while tertiary
alcohols undergo dehydration Biological oxidation of methanol and ethanol in the body produces the corresponding
aldehyde followed by the acid At times the alcoholics, by mistake, drink ethanol,
mixed with methanol also called denatured alcohol