What is a common method for converting a primary alcohol to a carboxylic acid?

To convert a primary alcohol to a carboxylic acid, the most effective method is through oxidation, particularly using strong oxidizing agents such as potassium permanganate or dichromate. These reagents facilitate the conversion of the alcohol, which has a hydroxyl (-OH) group, to the corresponding aldehyde first, and subsequently to the carboxylic acid by further oxidation.

The oxidation mechanism involves the transformation of the alcohol's hydroxyl group into a carbonyl group (aldehyde) and then to a carboxyl group (-COOH). The strong oxidizing conditions provided by potassium permanganate or dichromate ensure complete oxidation to the carboxylic acid, making this method reliable and commonly used in organic chemistry.

Other methods listed do not achieve this conversion effectively. For example, using a weak acid would generally not provide sufficient oxidative power to convert an alcohol into a carboxylic acid. Similarly, reduction with sodium borohydride is aimed at reducing carbonyl compounds and would not be suitable for this transformation. Heating with water might cause some reaction but would not effectively oxidize the alcohol to a carboxylic acid. Thus, oxidation with potassium permanganate or dichromate is the correct and