Question

Using an appropriate catalyst, ethane can be oxidized to an alcohol, an aldehyde, and an acid.

Name alcohol, aldehyde, and acid formed when ethane is oxidized.

Answer 1

Ethane can be oxidized as follows:
When a mixture of Ethane $C_2{H}_6$ and Oxygen $\left(O_2\right)$ in the ratio 9:1 by volume is compressed to about 120 atm pressure and passed over copper tubes at 475 K, Ethyl alcohol $\left(C{H}_{3}C{H}_{2}OH\right)$is formed.

• The reaction is as follows:

$\underset{Ethane}{C_2{H}_6\left(g\right)}+\underset{\mathrm{Oxygen}}{{\mathrm{O}}_2\left(\mathrm{g}\right)}\underset{{475}^0\mathrm{C}}{\overset{120\mathrm{atm}}{\to }}\underset{Ethanol}{2C{H}_{3}C{H}_{2}OH\left(l\right)}$

• When a mixture of Ethane and Oxygen is passed through heated Molybdenum oxide $\left(MoO\right)$, the mixture is oxidized to Ethanal $\left(C{H}_{3}CHO\right)$
• The reaction is as follows:

$\underset{Ethane}{C_2{H}_6\left(g\right)}+\underset{\mathrm{Oxygen}}{{\mathrm{O}}_2\left(\mathrm{g}\right)}\stackrel{\mathrm{MoO}}{\to }\underset{Ethnal}{C{H}_{3}CHO\left(l\right)}+\underset{Water}{H_{2}O\left(l\right)}$

• When a Manganese-based catalyst is used at${100}^0\mathrm{C}$, Ethane can be oxidized to Ethanoic acid $({\mathrm{CH}}_3\mathrm{COOH})$
• The reaction is as follows:

$\underset{Ethane}{C_2{H}_6\left(g\right)}+\underset{Oxygen}{O_2\left(g\right)}\stackrel{KMn{O}_4}{\to }\underset{Ethanoicacid}{C{H}_{3}COOH\left(l\right)}+\underset{Water}{H_{2}O\left(l\right)}$