How is ethyl alcohol oxidized to acetic acid?

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Answer 1 · 2016-01-29T18:27:48

$H_{3} C - C H_{2} O H + O_{2} \to H_{3} C - C (= O) O H + H_{2} O$ $H_3C-CH_2OH + O_2 rarr H_3C-C(=O)OH + H_2O$

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,

$C H_{3} C H_{2} O H + P I_{3} \to C H_{3} C H_{2} I + H_{3} P O_{3}$ $color(red)(CH_3CH_2OH)+PI_3->CH_3CH_2I+H_3PO_3$

SECONDLY,

$C H_{3} C H_{2} I + K C N \to C H_{3} C H_{2} C N + K I$ $CH_3CH_2I+KCN->CH_3CH_2CN+KI$

THIRDLY,

$C H_{3} C H_{2} C N + 2 H_{2} O \to C H_{3} C H_{2} C O O H + N H_{3}$ $CH_3CH_2CN+2H_2O->color(red)(CH_3CH_2COOH)+NH_3$