CHEMISTRY

JAMB 2002 - Question 41

Chemistry 2002 JAMB Past Questions - Question 41: The intermediate product formed when ethanol is progressively oxidized to ethanoic acid with potassium heptaoxodichromate (VI) is

Choose the correct answers from the options given.
The intermediate product formed when ethanol is progressively oxidized to ethanoic acid with potassium heptaoxodichromate (VI) is
A:
B:
C:
D:
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Correct Answer

B

Explanation

When ethanol is progressively oxidized to ethanoic acid with potassium heptaoxodichromate (VI) (also known as potassium dichromate, K2Cr2O7), the intermediate product formed is acetaldehyde (ethanal). The chemical equation for the overall reaction is as follows:

\[ \text{CH}_3\text{CH}_2\text{OH} \xrightarrow{\text{oxidation}} \text{CH}_3\text{CHO} \xrightarrow{\text{further oxidation}} \text{CH}_3\text{COOH} \]

In the presence of potassium heptaoxodichromate (VI), ethanol (\( \text{CH}_3\text{CH}_2\text{OH} \)) is first oxidized to acetaldehyde (\( \text{CH}_3\text{CHO} \)) as the intermediate product. Acetaldehyde is then further oxidized to form ethanoic acid (\( \text{CH}_3\text{COOH} \)), which is the final product of this oxidation reaction.