Prepare benzoic acid from from benzyl alcohol. What is the purpose of the addition of the sulfuric acid? Include chemical reaction.

Benzoic acid can be prepared from benzyl alcohol using potassium dichromate and sulfuric acid.

Explanation:

Benzyl alcohol is a primary alcohol that can be transformed into benzoic acid by an oxidation reaction.

The reactants needed are potassium dichromate and sulfuric acid.

The sulfuric acid is needed to react with the potassium dichromate and form cromic acid, which is a strong oxidizing agent that will convert the alcohol to its equivalent carboxylic acid.

The chemical reaction is

3 ФCH₂OH + 2Cr₂O⁷⁻ + 16 H⁺ 3 ФCOOH + 4Cr³⁺ + 11H₂O