Question

Which of the following is/are used for the preparation of acetic acid?

• A. Methanal
• B. Ethanal
• C. Ethanol
• D. Methanol

Answer 1

Answer: (B), (C)

The correct options are
B Ethanal
C Ethanol

Ethanal is used to prepare acetic acid, by its oxidation with a suitable reagent.

$\underset{Ethanal}{C{H}_{3}CHO}\stackrel{\left[O\right]}{\to }C{H}_{3}COOH$

Ethanol can also be used to prepare by oxidizing it first to ethanal and then to acetic acid as shown below:
$\underset{Ethanol}{C{H}_{3}C{H}_{2}OH}\stackrel{\left[O\right]}{\to }\underset{Ethanal}{C{H}_{3}CHO}\stackrel{\left[O\right]}{\to }\underset{aceticacid}{C{H}_{3}COOH}$

Hence, both B and C are correct.