Explain the oxidation of a primary alcohol to a carboxylic acid, using ethanol as an example.

Here is an example of the oxidation of a primary alcohol to an aldehyde and then to a carboxylic acid:

Example: Oxidation of Ethanol

When ethanol (a primary alcohol) is oxidized using a strong oxidizing agent like acidified potassium dichromate ($\text{K}_2\text{Cr}_2\text{O}_7/\text{H}^+$) or potassium permanganate ($\text{KMnO}_4$), it first forms ethanal (an aldehyde), which is then further oxidized to ethanoic acid (a carboxylic acid).