Question

What is "nascent oxygen", and how does it relate to potassium permanganate?

Answer 1

Nascent oxygen $\left[\mathrm{O}\right]$:

• Nascent oxygen is the atomic form of oxygen $\left[\mathrm{O}\right]$.
• It has a high tendency to react with the other nascent oxygen $\left[\mathrm{O}\right]$ and to obtain an Oxygen $\left({\mathrm{O}}_2\right)$molecule.
• it does not exist as a molecule independently.
• In chemical reactions, nascent oxygen $\left[\mathrm{O}\right]$is produced from strong oxidizing agents like ${\mathrm{KMnO}}_4$.

Relation between Nascent oxygen and Potassium permanganate:

• Nascent Oxygen $\left[\mathrm{O}\right]$ and Potassium permanganate $\left({\mathrm{KMnO}}_4\right)$ both are Oxidizing agents.
• When Potassium permanganate $\left({\mathrm{KMnO}}_4\right)$ reacts with Ethanol $\left({\mathrm{CH}}_3{\mathrm{CH}}_2\mathrm{OH}\right)$, it liberates nascent oxygen $\left[\mathrm{O}\right]$ i.e, an atom of oxygen, thus converting the ethanol $\left({\mathrm{CH}}_3{\mathrm{CH}}_2\mathrm{OH}\right)$ to acetic acid $\left({\mathrm{CH}}_3\mathrm{COOH}\right)$.
• The chemical reaction can be depicted as:

${\mathrm{C}}_2{\mathrm{H}}_5\mathrm{OH}\left(\mathrm{l}\right)+2\left[\mathrm{O}\right]\stackrel{\mathrm{Alc}.{\mathrm{KMnO}}_4}{\to }+{\mathrm{CH}}_3\mathrm{COOH}\left(\mathrm{l}\right)+{\mathrm{H}}_2\mathrm{O}\left(\mathrm{l}\right)$