What is the process to convert an alcohol into a ketone?

To convert an alcohol into a ketone, the process involves an oxidation reaction using an appropriate oxidizing agent. In organic chemistry, alcohols can undergo oxidation to form carbonyl compounds, such as aldehydes and ketones, depending on the structure of the alcohol.

In the case of secondary alcohols, when these undergo oxidation, the hydroxyl group (-OH) is converted into a carbonyl group (C=O), leading to the formation of a ketone. This reaction is typically facilitated by strong oxidizing agents such as potassium dichromate (K2Cr2O7) or sodium dichromate (Na2Cr2O7) in acidic conditions, which effectively transfers oxygen and increases the oxidation state of the alcohol.

Other options would not result in the formation of a ketone from an alcohol. Reduction reactions typically involve the addition of hydrogen or the removal of oxygen, which would not facilitate the conversion of an alcohol to a ketone. Hydrolysis, which involves a reaction with water, would not produce a ketone from an alcohol. Lastly, substitution reactions with halogens involve replacing a functional group and do not convert alcohols into ketones. Thus, the oxidation of alcohols using oxidizing agents is the correct and