Question

Write the balanced chemical equation for the preparation of the following.

Ethanoic acid from ethane.

Answer 1

Preparation of Ethanoic acid from Ethane:

Ethane is the primary hydrocarbon that can be oxidized to several degrees using various oxidizing agents to yield a corresponding carboxylic acid such as Ethanoic acid. The steps involve oxidation of alkane to alcohol, then aldehyde, and finally to acid functionality. The reagent most convenient for this conversion is potassium dichromate $K_{2}C{r}_2{O}_7$ . The following reaction is observed in case of ethane:

$C_2{H}_6\underset{K_{2}C{r}_2{O}_7}{\overset{\left[O\right]}{\to }}{C}_2{H}_{5}OH\underset{K_{2}C{r}_2{O}_7}{\overset{\left[O\right]}{\to }}C{H}_{3}CHO\underset{K_{2}C{r}_2{O}_7}{\overset{\left[O\right]}{\to }}C{H}_{3}COOH$
Ethane Ethanol Ethanal Ethanoic acid

Final Answer:

Ethane when oxidized using potassium dichromate gives acid after several steps.