A carboxylic acid (molecular formula C2H4O) reacts with an alcohol in the presence of an acid catalyst to form a compound ‘X’. The alcohol on oxidation with alkaline KMnO4 followed by acidification gives the same carboxylic acid C2H4O2. Identify the carboxylic acid, alcohol and the compound ‘X’ and write the structure of each.
Answer:
Oxygen in alcohol has -2 oxidation number but as hydrogen is attached with it (-OH group) the net oxidation number on oxygen is -1. The carbon has to H atoms attached to it so net (2*1=2). So to nullify the charge Carbon should have -(2–1)=-1.May 22, 2017