Ethanol is converted to ethanoic acid using alkaline potassium permanganate. (i) What type of chemical reaction is this? Give one reason to justify your answer. (ii) What is the role of alkaline potassium permanganate in this reaction?
Generated by claude-sonnet-4-6 · 2026-06-26 01:06 · grounding rag
Model Answer
(i) This is an oxidation reaction.
Reason: Ethanol (CH₃CH₂OH) is converted to ethanoic acid (CH₃COOH) by the addition of oxygen to the starting material (alcohol). Since oxygen is added, it is an oxidation reaction.
(ii) Alkaline potassium permanganate acts as an oxidising agent. It supplies oxygen to ethanol, converting it into ethanoic acid. It is capable of adding oxygen to other substances, hence it is classified as an oxidising agent.
Source: Chapter 4, Section 4.3.2 – Oxidation
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Explanation
- (i) requires naming the reaction type AND giving a reason — both are needed for full marks. The key point is: addition of oxygen = oxidation.
- (ii) The textbook explicitly states KMnO₄ is an oxidising agent because it adds oxygen to alcohols to form acids. Use the exact term "oxidising agent" and briefly explain what it does.
- Do not confuse with combustion — this is a controlled oxidation producing carboxylic acid, not CO₂ and H₂O.