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Chemistry Forums for Students => High School Chemistry Forum => Topic started by: darchax on January 28, 2007, 01:15:02 PM

Title: Citric acid
Post by: darchax on January 28, 2007, 01:15:02 PM

I'd like to know what citric acid oxidises to form, when say, it gets oxidised by H202 or KMNO4. Also, are there any literature values as to what how strong it is as a reducing agent?

Title: Re: Citric acid
Post by: Borek on January 28, 2007, 03:24:26 PM

Probably depends on how far the oxidation goes. Up to CO₂ & H₂O. No idea if it possible to stop the oxidation at some earlier stage.

Title: Re: Citric acid
Post by: darchax on January 29, 2007, 11:28:36 AM

Could you clarify what that means? If say i oxidize citric acid with KMnO4, would there definitely be complete oxidation, forming CO2 and H20? Or would there be another type of hydrocarbon left behind?

Thanks!