Question

What happens when 5 ℅ alkaline solution of potassium permanganate is added to ethanol drop by drop? What happens when excess of this solution is added? Write a balanced chemical equation for this reaction. What is the role of alkaline potassium permanganate in this reaction ?

Answer 1

When 5% alkaline solution of potassium permagnet is added to ethanol drop by drop then ETHANOL get oxidised to form ETHANOIC ACID and Water.

OXIDATION reaction here is carried out by the  POTASSIUM PERMAGNET

which supplies oxygen.

REACTION:

$-------------                                  KMnOx_{4} \\C_{2}H_{5}OH + O_{2} ----------------- CH_{3}COOH + H_{2}0$

Answer 2

Dear student,


● Explanation -
- When ethanol is treated with alk.KMnO4, it gets oxidized to first aldehydes (ketones) and on further oxidation carboxylic acids are obtained.
CH3-CH2-OH + [O] --> CH3-CHO
CH3-CHO + [O] --> CH3-COOH

- In this reaction, when excess alk.KMnO4 is added, no more alcohol is available for reaction.
- Thus purple color of KMnO4 persist when added in excess.

# Role of KMnO4 in this reaction is of oxidizing agent.


Hope this helps...