Victor Meyer Test for Alcohols
The Victor Meyer test was first developed by German chemist Victor Meyer around 1876 and used to distinguish between primary, secondary, and tertiary alcohols. In this test, alcohol is first treated with P and I2 to produce iodoalkane, which is then treated with AgNO2 (silver nitrate) to produce nitroalkane. The nitroalkane produced is then treated with nitrous acid (a combination of NaNO2 and dilute HCl or H2SO4) before being turned alkaline with KOH and the colour noticed. Primary alcohols produce blood red, secondary alcohols produce blue, and the tertiary alcohols produce no colour.
| Victor Meyer's Test Observation | |
|---|---|
| Type of Alcohols | Color Appears |
| Primary Alcohol | Blood Red |
| Secondary Alcohol | Blue |
| Tertiary Alcohol | No Color |
