Though alkaline potassium permanganate and acidic potassium permanganate both are used as oxidants, yet in the manufacture of benzoic acid from toluene we use alcoholic potassium permanganate as an oxidant. Why? Write the balanced redox equation for the reaction.

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Solution

Toluene is oxidized to benzoic acid by using alcoholic potassium permanganate.
In neutral medium hydroxide ions are produced. This reduces cost of adding acid or base.
Alcohol and $K M n O_{4}$ are both polar and homogeneous to each other. Toluene and alcohol are homogeneous as they are organic. Thus, in alcohol the rate of reaction between toluene and $K M n O_{4}$ is higher. The balanced redox reaction is as shown.

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