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Chemistry Forums for Students => High School Chemistry Forum => Topic started by: jackwhacky on February 27, 2021, 08:50:31 AM

Title: Oxidation of 2-Butanol
Post by: jackwhacky on February 27, 2021, 08:50:31 AM

Hello. I saw my online teacher writing the equation for the oxidation of 2-butanol this way:

CH₃CH(OH)CH₂CH₃+1/2 O₂ ::equil:: CH₃COCH₂CH₃ + H₂O

My question is can I balance it this way correctly instead?

2CH₃CH(OH)CH₂CH₃+O₂ ::equil:: 2CH₃COCH₂CH₃ + 2H₂O

Thanks!

Title: Re: Oxidation of 2-Butanol
Post by: Borek on February 27, 2021, 09:43:18 AM

In a way both are correct. Sometimes it is easier to make a point using coefficient of 1 for the most important reactant in the equation.

As far as I am aware IUPAC doesn't define whether the stoichiometric coefficients should be integer numbers, although in my experience the convention of using set of the smallest integers is the preferred one.

Title: Re: Oxidation of 2-Butanol
Post by: jackwhacky on February 28, 2021, 02:01:09 PM

I see! It makes much more sense now. Thank you  :)

Title: Re: Oxidation of 2-Butanol
Post by: Vidya on March 01, 2021, 11:46:04 PM

In one case you are writing equation for one mole of butanol undergoing oxidation and in second case you are writing equation for two moles of butanol.