Alcohol can be converted to carboxylic acid
- ABy oxidation only
- BBy reduction only
- CBy esterification
- DBy both oxidation and reduction
- ENone of the above/More than one of the above
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: (a) By oxidation only
Explanation
A primary alcohol becomes a carboxylic acid by oxidation, for example with acidified potassium dichromate or permanganate:
R–CH₂OH → R–CHO (aldehyde) → R–COOH (carboxylic acid)
So ethanol oxidises to acetic acid; this is also how wine turns into vinegar. Esterification is the reverse kind of reaction: an acid and an alcohol joining to form an ester.