YEAR 12 PRACTICAL 12 Aim: To prepare ethanal and ethanoic acid from ethanol Ethanal and ethanoic acid can

both be prepared by the oxidation of ethanol using the same oxidising agent acidified potassium dichromate. The product formed during this oxidation reaction depends on the conditions and apparatus used. Part 1 Oxidation of ethanol to ethanal 1. 2. 3. (. Place about 20 cm3 of dilute sulphuric acid into a round-bottomed flas ! and add t"o anti-bumping granules. #dd 10 g of potassium dichromate and sha e the mixture until the solid has dissol$ed. %t may be necessary to "arm the mixture gently. &ool the mixture do"n and add ' cm3 of ethanol drop"ise! sha ing the flas bet"een additions. )et up the distillation apparatus as sho"n belo"*

distillation apparatus +. ,eat the product gently until a fe" cm3 of li-uid has boiled o$er.

Part 2 Oxidation of ethanol to ethanoic acid 1. 2. 3. Place about 20 cm3 of dilute sulphuric acid into a round-bottomed flas ! and add t"o anti-bumping granules. #dd ( g of potassium dichromate and sha e the mixture until the solid has dissol$ed. %t may be necessary to "arm the mixture gently. &ool the mixture do"n and set up the refl x apparatus as sho"n belo"*

reflux apparatus (. +. /. #dd 10 cm3 of ethanol drop"ise do"n the condenser and into the flas . .oil the mixture for 20 minutes 0earrange the apparatus for distillation and heat until a fe" cm3 of li-uid has boiled o$er.

Anal!sis 1. 2. 3. (. +. /. 1rite e-uations! using 234 to represent the oxidising agent! to sho" the oxidation of ethanol to ethanal and ethanoic acid. %n "hich oxidation should the ratio of oxidising agent to ethanol be higher5 1hat happens to the ethanal during distillation and "hy is this important5 1hat happens to the ethanal during reflux and "hy is this important5 1hat does ethanal smell li e5 1hat does ethanoic acid smell li e5