How is ethyl alcohol oxidized to acetic acid?

Question

4698 views around the world

You can reuse this answer
Creative Commons License

Answer 1 · 2016-01-29T18:27:48

#H_3C-CH_2OH + O_2 rarr H_3C-C(=O)OH + H_2O#

Usually these oxidation reactions are performed in hot acidic potassium permanganate or potassium dichromate.

Answer 2 · 2016-01-30T12:19:28

this is how you do it,

FIRSTLY,

#color(red)(CH_3CH_2OH)+PI_3->CH_3CH_2I+H_3PO_3#

SECONDLY,

#CH_3CH_2I+KCN->CH_3CH_2CN+KI#

THIRDLY,

#CH_3CH_2CN+2H_2O->color(red)(CH_3CH_2COOH)+NH_3#