Question

Name the catalyst which is used in the preparation of acetic acid from ethanol.

Answer 1

Ethanol:

1. Ethanol is also known as Ethyl alcohol.
2. It has a chemical formula ${\mathrm{C}}_2{\mathrm{H}}_5\mathrm{OH}$.

Preparation of Acetic acid:

1. Ethanol in presence of acidified Potassium dichromate (${\mathrm{K}}_2{\mathrm{Cr}}_2{\mathrm{O}}_7$), undergoes oxidation forming Ethanal or Acetaldehyde (${\mathrm{CH}}_3\mathrm{CHO}$) and water as products.
2. Then, Acetaldehyde undergoes further oxidation to form Acetic acid or Ethanoic acid (${\mathrm{CH}}_3\mathrm{COOH}$).
3. The reaction is given below:

$$\begin{gathered} {\mathrm{CH}}_3{\mathrm{CH}}_2\mathrm{OH}\left(\mathrm{l}\right)+\left[\mathrm{O}\right]\frac{{\mathrm{K}}_2{\mathrm{Cr}}_2{\mathrm{O}}_7}{\text{Acidified}}{\mathrm{CH}}_3\mathrm{CHO}\left(\mathrm{l}\right)+{\mathrm{H}}_2\mathrm{O}\left(\mathrm{l}\right) \\ {\mathrm{CH}}_3\mathrm{CHO}\left(\mathrm{l}\right)+\left[\mathrm{O}\right]\frac{{\mathrm{K}}_2{\mathrm{Cr}}_2{\mathrm{O}}_7}{\text{Acidified}}{\mathrm{CH}}_3\mathrm{COOH}\left(\mathrm{l}\right) \end{gathered}$$

Hence, the catalyst that is used in the preparation of Acetic acid from Ethanol is Potassium dichromate (${\mathrm{K}}_2{\mathrm{Cr}}_2{\mathrm{O}}_7$).