JAMB - Chemistry (2002 - No. 36)
The intermediate product formed when ethanol is progressively oxidized to ethanoic acid with potassium heptaoxodichromate (IV) is
butanal
ethanal
methanal
propanal
Explication
The complete oxidation of ethanol to ethanoic acid is a stepwise process that involves the following steps:
- Ethanol is oxidized to ethanal
- Water adds an oxygen atom to ethanal
- Ethanoic acid is formed.