Lab Report Chemistry Foundation in Science

Name: Fatimatuzzahra’ binti Hardiyono

No. Matric: FIS09210001
Lecture’s Name: Madam Nur Shahirah binti Nasir
Lab Experiment: Classification of Alcohol: Oxidation Test
Lab Date: 17 August 2022 Sem: Semester 3 Intake: September 2021

Introduction:

Oxidation of alcohol involves two hydrogen atoms: one from a carbon atom bonded to the -OH
group and the other from the -OH group. The organic compound obtained depends on whether
primary, secondary, or tertiary alcohol is oxidized.
1. Primary alcohol → aldehyde → carboxylic acid
2. Secondary alcohol → ketone
3. Tertiary alcohol → cannot be oxidized except under severe oxidizing conditions.

Objective:

To oxidize alcohol produce other compounds like aldehyde, ketone, and carboxylic acid.

Material and Apparatus:

Ethanol Test tube rack

Potassium Permanganate Test tube
Dropper Glass rod
Sulphuric Acid 1M Rubber stopper
Methanol Beaker
Propanol Measuring cylinder
Wire Gauze Bunsen burner
Procedure:

1. One drop of concentrated sulphuric acid was added to a test tube.

2. 5-10 drop of ethanol was added using a dropper, and the mixture was mixed until the
color changed. After that, 5 drops of KMnO4 were added.
3. The mixture in the test tube was cooled under a tap. The sweetish smell of ethanol was
smelled (acetaldehyde) at first, but when oxidation continues, the smell became sharper
and ethanoic acid was formed.
4. The mixture was warmed gently when the reaction subsided. The smell of ethanoic acid
became more noticeable.
5. The odor and the color changing were recorded in the table below.
6. Step 1 until 5 were repeated with methanol and propanol.
Observation:

Before oxidation occur After oxidation occurs

Purple color brown color was formed

Purple color The yellowish-brown color was formed
 Purple color The dark brown color was formed

Result:

Testing Odor Colour

Chemical (scent-like marker pen and vinegar)
Ethanol Sweetish become less sharp Purple → yellowish brown
Methanol Sweetish become sharp Purple → brown
Propanol Sweetish become sharper Purple → dark brown
Analysis and Discussion:

From the experiment above, the product of each alcohol is not the same because of the group of
alcohol itself. Ethanol is a primary alcohol. Primary alcohols can be oxidized to aldehydes or
carboxylic acids, depending on the reaction involved. In the formation of carboxylic acids, the
alcohol is first oxidized to an aldehyde, which is then oxidized further to the carboxylic acid. This
is the equation for the reaction:

The same goes for methanol. Methanol is the primary alcohol even though there are no alkyl
groups attached to the carbon with the -OH group on it. Methanol undergoes the same oxidation
process as ethanol. And the equation is:
Unlike propanol. Propanol or Propan-2-ol is the secondary alcohol. It only has one C−H bond and
will be oxidized to ketones. For example, if we heat Propan-2-ol with potassium permanganate
solution acidified with dilute sulfuric acid, propanone is formed. The equation of the reaction will
look like this:
Conclusion:

To conclude, primary and secondary alcohol can be oxidized to form aldehyde, carboxylic acid,
and ketone.

Questions:

1. How do you explain any color changes you see?

All of the alcohol above turns the potassium permanganate deep purple color to
yellowish/ brown color which indicates they are fully oxidized. Potassium permanganate
is a potent oxidant. In this oxidation process, the reduction product is MnO2.

2. Which alcohols have been oxidized?

Methanol, Ethanol, and Propanol are all oxidized because they are from primary and
secondary types of alcohol.

3. Write the equation to show the reaction of each alcohol with an oxidizing agent.

Ethanol
Methanol
 Propanol

Reference:

Libretexts. (2020, September 13). The Oxidation of Alcohols. Chemistry LibreTexts.

https://chem.libretexts.org/Bookshelves/Organic_Chemistry/Supplemental_Modules_(Organic_
Chemistry)/Alcohols/Reactivity_of_Alcohols/The_Oxidation_of_Alcohols