CH3 – CH2 – OH + Alkaline KMnO4 + Heat → CH3 – COOH. In The Above Giv...
KMnO4 acts as oxidizing agent because it removes hydrogen from CH3CH2OH and adds one oxygen to it. Note: Oxidizing agent is a substance which gives oxygen to the compound for oxidation (i.e. oxygen is removed from it) or which removes hydrogen from the compound. In other words, we can say that CH3CH2OH is oxidized to CH3COOH in the presence of oxidizing agent like KMnO4.
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CH3 – CH2 – OH + Alkaline KMnO4 + Heat → CH3 – COOH. In The Above Giv...
Alkaline KMnO4 as an Oxidizing Agent
When CH3-CH2-OH (ethanol) is treated with alkaline KMnO4 and heated, it undergoes oxidation to form CH3-COOH (acetic acid). In this reaction, alkaline KMnO4 acts as an oxidizing agent.
Definition of Oxidizing Agent
An oxidizing agent is a substance that oxidizes another substance by accepting electrons from it. It causes the oxidation state of the other substance to increase.
Explanation
1. Alkaline KMnO4 (potassium permanganate) is a strong oxidizing agent. In the reaction, KMnO4 is in its +7 oxidation state.
2. Ethanol (CH3-CH2-OH) contains carbon in the -2 oxidation state.
3. When ethanol is heated with alkaline KMnO4, the Mn(VII) ions in KMnO4 are reduced to Mn(IV) ions (MnO2). This reduction reaction is accompanied by the oxidation of ethanol.
4. In the oxidation of ethanol, the carbon in ethanol is oxidized from -2 to +2 oxidation state, forming acetic acid (CH3-COOH). The oxygen in KMnO4 is reduced from +7 to +4 oxidation state.
5. The overall balanced equation for the reaction is:
CH3-CH2-OH + 2KMnO4 → CH3-COOH + 2MnO2 + KOH + H2O
(ethanol) (acetic acid)
6. Here, ethanol is oxidized to acetic acid, and KMnO4 is reduced to MnO2.
7. Therefore, alkaline KMnO4 acts as an oxidizing agent in this reaction.
Summary
In the given reaction, alkaline KMnO4 acts as an oxidizing agent. It oxidizes ethanol to acetic acid by accepting electrons and causing an increase in the oxidation state of carbon.
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