Ethanol
Ethanol is a simple hydrocarbon of the formula C2H5OH. Ethanol is a form of primary alcohol. This is then can be oxidised to carboxylic acid by refluxing it with an acid H+ and potassium dichromate. Ethanol can also be oxidised to ethanal through partial oxidation. This achieved by adding excess alcohol and by distilling off the aldehyde as it forms[1]. Ethanol is used commonly as a solvent and is used in the perfume industry and is found in paints. It is also used to dissolve a wide range of water insoluble medications[2].
3CH3CH2OH + Cr2O72- + 8H+ → 3CH3CHO + 2Cr3+ + 7H2O
References
- ↑ http://chemguide.co.uk/organicprops/alcohols/oxidation.html
- ↑ National Center for Biotechnology Information. PubChem Compound Database; CID=702, https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/702 (accessed Oct. 20, 2016).