3 In the laboratory, ethanol can be oxidised with acidified potassium
dichromate (VI).
3.1 The ethanol can be oxidised to form either ethanal, CH$_3$CHO (Fig. 1), or ethanoic
acid, CH$_3$COOH (Fig. 2).
water
out
ethanol
and acidified
potassium
dichromate(VI)
water
out
ethanol
and acidified
potassium
dichromate(VI)
water bath
at 60°C
Fig. 1
water in
distillate
ice-water
mixture
?
heat
Fig. 2
The boiling points of ethanol, ethanal and ethanoic acid are given in the table
below.
CH$_3$CH$_2$OH CH$_3$CHO CH$_3$COOH
boiling point / °C
8
21
118
Use this table of boiling points to explain:
a) Which organic product is likely to be if the apparatus shown in Fig. 1 is used?
Explain your answer.
b) Which organic product is likely to be if the apparatus shown in Fig. 2 is used?
Explain your answer.
c) Write a balanced equation for the oxidation of ethanol to ethanoic acid. Use
[O] to represent the oxidising agent.
water
in
