Oxidation
Ethanal is oxidised to ethanoic acid.
- Reagents
- K2Cr2O7 / dilute H2SO4
- Conditions
- Warm in acidic solution
- Reaction class
- Oxidation
- Equation
- CH3CHO + [O] -> CH3COOH
Overview
Ethanal is oxidised to ethanoic acid.
Transformation
- Equation
- CH3CHO + [O] -> CH3COOH
- Reagents
- K2Cr2O7 / dilute H2SO4
- Environment
- Warm in acidic solution
- Reaction class
- Oxidation
- Mechanism
- aldehyde oxidation
- Evidence level
- source-backed molecular example
Scope and limitations
- Scope
- Ethanal; aldehyde.
- Limitations
- Alkaline oxidation gives an ethanoate salt.
Related reactions
- Iodoform reaction: Ethanal → Triiodomethane products
Ethanal gives triiodomethane and methanoate in the alkaline iodine iodoform reaction.
- Partial oxidation: Ethanol → Ethanal
Ethanol is oxidised to ethanal.
- Oxidation: Ethanol → Ethanoic acid
Ethanol is oxidised to ethanoic acid.
- Reduction: Ethanal → Ethanol
Ethanal is reduced to ethanol.
- Esterification: Ethanoic acid → Ethyl acetate
Ethanoic acid and ethanol combine reversibly to form ethyl acetate and water.
- Acid hydrolysis: Ethyl acetate → Ethanoic acid
Ethyl acetate and water react reversibly to form ethanoic acid and ethanol.
- Amide hydrolysis: Acetamide → Ethanoic acid
Acid activates the amide carbonyl for water addition. Proton transfer makes nitrogen a better leaving group before C-N cleavage; the acyl fragment becomes ethanoic acid and the nitrogen ends as ammonium.
- Acid hydrolysis: Methyl acetate → Ethanoic acid
Water adds to the protonated ester carbonyl. Proton transfer allows methanol to leave as the carbonyl reforms, producing the acid and alcohol together.
References
- Oxidation of aldehydes and ketonesJim Clark · Chemguide · 2015
Named molecular examples and reaction scope, checked 2026-09-08.