Question

Why is the conversion of ethanol to ethanoic acid an oxidation reaction?

Answer 1

$C{H}_{3}C{H}_{2}OH\underrightarrow{\left[O\right]}C{H}_{3}COOH$
Ethanol Ethanoic acid

A molecule of ethanol contains six hydrogen atoms while that of ethanoic acid contains four hydrogen atoms since oxidation involves the removal of hydrogen, therefore conversion of ethanol to ethanoic acid is an oxidation reaction.

Since the conversion of ethanol to ethanoic acid involves the addition of oxygen to ethanol, it is an oxidation reaction.