Question

What is the role of metal or reagents written on arrows in the given chemical reactions?

${\mathrm{CH}}_3{\mathrm{CH}}_2\mathrm{OH}\underset{\text{Heat}}{\overset{\mathrm{Alk}.{\mathrm{KMnO}}_4}{\to }}{\mathrm{CH}}_3\mathrm{COOH}$

Answer 1

Preparation of carboxylic acid

• Primary alcohols are readily oxidized to carboxylic acids with oxidizing agents. For example: potassium permanganate $\left({\mathrm{KMnO}}_4\right)$.

Role of $\mathrm{Alk}.{\mathrm{KMnO}}_4$

• In the given reaction, ethanol is converted into ethanoic acid.
• In this reaction, $\mathrm{Alk}.{\mathrm{KMnO}}_4$ is used as an oxidizing agent.
• $$\begin{gathered} {\mathrm{CH}}_3{\mathrm{CH}}_2\mathrm{OH}\underset{\text{Heat}}{\overset{\mathrm{Alk}.{\mathrm{KMnO}}_4}{\to }}{\mathrm{CH}}_3\mathrm{COOH} \\ \mathrm{Ethanol}\mathrm{Ethanoic}\mathrm{acid} \end{gathered}$$