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Ritter's Test

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jena:
Hi,

I having a hard time figuring out the products of the Ritter's test. So far I have written the following reaction for ethanol.

For Ethanol with Potassium Premagenate:

CH3CH(OH)----> CH3CH(MnO4) + KOH

If this isn't correct where may I have gone wrong in coming up with the products.

Thank You  :)

movies:
KMnO4 will oxidize alcohols to carboxylic acids.  You should end up with MnO2, H2O, and potassium acetate (KO(C=O)CH3).

jena:
Hi,

So how come the Ritter Test won't work for tertiary alcohols like tert-buty for example? Also how did you come up with reaction in the first response.

Thank You :)

movies:
Tertiary alcohols can't be oxidized because you would have to break a very strong carbon-carbon bond.  In the oxidation of a primary alcohol you are breaking a C-H bond, which is much weaker.

Which equation do you mean?

jena:
Hi,

I'm sorry the question for Ethanol with Potassium Premagenate, is what I was referring to. How did you come up with the products MnO2, H2O, and potassium acetate (KO(C=O)CH3)?

Thank you  :)

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