Question

A neutral compound 'X' of molecular formula C₂H₆O on oxidation with acidified potassium dichromate gives a compound 'Y'. Compound 'X' reacts with 'Y' on warming in presence of conc. H₂SO₄ to give a sweet smelling substance 'Z'. What are 'X', 'Y' and 'Z'? Give equations of the reactions involved.

Answer 1

The reactions are:

$$\begin{gathered} \underset{X}{{\mathrm{C}}_2{\mathrm{H}}_5\mathrm{OH}}\underset{{\mathrm{K}}_2{\mathrm{Cr}}_2{\mathrm{O}}_7/{\mathrm{H}}^{+}}{\overset{\left[\mathrm{O}\right]}{\to }}{\mathrm{CH}}_3\mathrm{CHO}\stackrel{\left[\mathrm{O}\right]}{\to }\underset{Y}{{\mathrm{CH}}_3\mathrm{COOH}} \\ \underset{Y}{{\mathrm{CH}}_3\mathrm{COOH}}+\underset{X}{{\mathrm{C}}_2{\mathrm{H}}_5\mathrm{OH}}\stackrel{\mathrm{Conc}.{\mathrm{H}}_2{\mathrm{SO}}_4}{\to }\underset{Z}{{\mathrm{CH}}_3{\mathrm{COOC}}_2{\mathrm{H}}_5}+{\mathrm{H}}_2\mathrm{O} \end{gathered}$$

Hence, the compounds are:

X: Ethanol
Y: Acetic acid
Z: Ethyl acetate