Question

Give account of chemical properties? 

(i) combustion of ethanol 

(ii) oxidation of ethanol 

(iii) reaction of C₂H₅OH with sodium metal 

(iv) dehydration of C₂H₅OH 

(v) reaction of C₂H₅OH with ethanoic acid

Answer 1

(i) Ethanol upon combustion gives carbon dioxide and water. 

C₂H₅OH + 3O₂→ 2CO₂ + 3H₂O 

(ii) Ethanol is oxidized to ethanoic acid when treated with oxidizing agents like acidified potassium dichromate

C₂H₅OH \(\underset{Acidified\,k_2Cr_2O_7\,+\,Heat}{\stackrel{Alkaline\,KMnO_4\,+\,Heat}{\longrightarrow}}\) CH₃COOH

(iii) Ethanol reacts with sodium metal to liberate hydrogen gas.

2C₂H₅OH + 2Na → 2C₂H₅O^-Na⁺ + H₂

(iv) Ethanol when dehydrated using conc. H₂SO₄ forms ethene.

CH₃CH₂OH \(\underset{conc.\,H_2SO_4}{\stackrel{443\,K}{\longrightarrow}}\) CH₂ = CH₂ +H₂O

(v) Ethanol (C₂H₅OH) reacts with ethanoic acid (CH₃COOH) in the presence of acidic medium to produce ethyl ethanoate which is an ester.

CH₃COOH + CH₃CH₂OH \(\overset{acid}\longrightarrow\) CH₃COOCH₂CH₃