Question

Ethyl alcohol upon oxidation produces

• A. ester
• B. aldehyde
• C. ether
• D. alkane

Answer 1

The Correct Option is B

In chemistry, the oxidation of ethyl alcohol (ethanol) can be described as a common reaction involving the conversion of alcohol to another functional group. Ethanol, with the chemical formula C₂H₅OH, undergoes oxidation to form an aldehyde. The process involves the removal of hydrogen or addition of oxygen to the ethanol molecule.

The reaction can be summarized as follows:

C₂H₅OH + [O] ⟶ CH₃CHO + H₂O

Here, CH₃CHO represents acetaldehyde, the aldehyde product formed as a result of the oxidation of ethanol. The oxidizing agent, represented in a generalized form as [O], facilitates this conversion by helping remove hydrogen atoms from the ethanol molecule.

Taking into consideration the available options:

1. ester
2. aldehyde
3. ether
4. alkane

The correct outcome of ethanol oxidation in this reaction is aldehyde.

Answer 2

Correct answer: aldehyde

Explanation: 
Ethyl alcohol is chemically represented as \(CH_3CH_2OH\).

- On mild oxidation, it loses hydrogen atoms and forms acetaldehyde (\(CH_3CHO\)).
- The reaction is as follows:

\[ CH_3CH_2OH \xrightarrow{[O]} CH_3CHO + H_2O \] 
Hence, ethyl alcohol upon oxidation gives an aldehyde.