The oxidation of ethanol involves two steps: first, ethanol is oxidized to acetaldehyde (ethanal), and then acetaldehyde is further oxidized to acetic acid (ethanoic acid).
Ethanol (CH3CH2OH) is oxidized to acetaldehyde (CH3CHO). This process involves the removal of a hydrogen atom from the carbon atom that is bonded to the alcohol group (-OH). Acetaldehyde (CH3CHO) is then further oxidized to acetic acid (CH3COOH). This involves the addition of an oxygen atom to the carbon atom that is bonded to the aldehyde group (-CHO). Strong oxidizing agents like acidified potassium dichromate (K2Cr2O7) or alkaline potassium permanganate (KMnO4) are commonly used to oxidize ethanol.