Oxidisation of Ethanol
Chemistry: Edexcel IGCSE, topic 15.3.4
Oxidisation of Ethanol
Ethanol can be oxidised in a number of ways:
Oxygen in the air
- When ethanol reacts with oxygen in the air it forms ethanoic acid.
Oxidising agent
- An oxidising agent (e.g. potassium dichromate(VI)) can be used to produce ethanoic acid.
- For example, if you add potassium dichromate(VI) to dilute sulfuric acid and ethanol and heat, ethanoic acid is produced.
Other alcohols
- The same is true for other alcohols.
- When methanol is oxidised, methanoic acid is produced.
- When propanol is oxidised, propanoic acid is produced.
- When butanol is oxidised, butanoic acid is produced.
Test yourself on Oxidisation of Ethanol
What product is formed when we oxidise ethanol?