Oxidation of primary alcohols to carboxylic acids. • Potassium permanganate (KMnO₄) is a very strong oxidant able to react with many functional groups such as secondary alcohols, 1,2-diols, aldehydes, alkenes, oximes, sulfides and thiols. • An alkaline solution of KMnO₄ is added to a primary alcohol (a primary alcohol is an alcohol where the hydroxyl group is is bonded to a primary carbon atom) the purple colour starts to fade as the solution is mixed together (it is important that the alcohol d