Question

What happens when (give balanced chemical equation and write the names of the reactants and products in each case):

Ethanol is treated with potassium dichromate and sulphuric acid.

Answer 1

Step 1: Introduction

In an organic reaction, a reagent reacts with a reactant molecule to produce an intermediate which is converted into final products.

The reaction of Ethanol $\left({\mathrm{C}}_2{\mathrm{H}}_5\mathrm{OH}\right)$ in the presence of concentrated Sulphuric acid $\left({\mathrm{H}}_2{\mathrm{SO}}_4\right)$ and Potassium dichromate $\left({\mathrm{K}}_2{\mathrm{Cr}}_2{\mathrm{O}}_7\right)$ shows an oxidation reaction to produce Ethanal $\left({\mathrm{CH}}_3\mathrm{CHO}\right)$ and then Ethanoic acid $\left({\mathrm{CH}}_3\mathrm{COOH}\right)$

Step 2: Reaction

The chemical equation of Ethanol with concentrated Sulphuric acid and Potassium dichromate is written as:

$$\begin{gathered} {\mathrm{C}}_2{\mathrm{H}}_5\mathrm{OH}+{\mathrm{K}}_2{\mathrm{Cr}}_2{\mathrm{O}}_7\stackrel{\mathrm{conc}{\mathrm{H}}_2{\mathrm{SO}}_4}{\to }{\mathrm{CH}}_3\mathrm{CHO}+{\mathrm{K}}_2{\mathrm{Cr}}_2{\mathrm{O}}_7\stackrel{\mathrm{conc}{\mathrm{H}}_2{\mathrm{SO}}_4}{\to }{\mathrm{CH}}_3\mathrm{COOH} \\ \mathrm{Ethanol}\mathrm{Ethanal}\mathrm{Ethanoic}\mathrm{acid} \end{gathered}$$