Question

Ethanol on complete oxidation gives __________.

• A. carbon dioxide
• B. acetaldehyde
• C. acetic acid
• D. acetone

Answer 1

The correct option is C acetic acid

Alcohols on oxidation gives carboxylic acids. Therefore, ethanol on oxidation gives ethanoic acid or acetic acid (${\text{CH}}_3\text{COOH}$). The reaction occurs as follows:
${\mathrm{CH}}_3{\mathrm{CH}}_2\mathrm{OH}\left(l\right)\underset{\left[O\right]}{\overset{\mathrm{Alkaline}\mathrm{KMnO}4}{\to }}{\mathrm{CH}}_3\mathrm{COOH}\left(l\right)\mathrm{Ethanol}\mathrm{Ethanoic}\mathrm{acid}$