Table of contents

1. A Review of General Chemistry5h 5m
2. Molecular Representations1h 14m
3. Acids and Bases2h 46m
4. Alkanes and Cycloalkanes4h 17m
5. Chirality3h 39m
6. Thermodynamics and Kinetics1h 22m
7. Substitution Reactions1h 48m
8. Elimination Reactions2h 30m
9. Alkenes and Alkynes2h 9m
10. Addition Reactions3h 19m
11. Radical Reactions1h 58m
12. Alcohols, Ethers, Epoxides and Thiols2h 42m
13. Alcohols and Carbonyl Compounds2h 17m
14. Synthetic Techniques1h 26m
15. Analytical Techniques:IR, NMR, Mass Spect7h 3m
16. Conjugated Systems6h 13m
17. Ultraviolet Spectroscopy51m
18. Aromaticity2h 34m
19. Reactions of Aromatics: EAS and Beyond5h 1m
20. Phenols55m
21. Aldehydes and Ketones: Nucleophilic Addition4h 56m
22. Carboxylic Acid Derivatives: NAS2h 51m
23. The Chemistry of Thioesters, Phophate Ester and Phosphate Anhydrides1h 10m
24. Enolate Chemistry: Reactions at the Alpha-Carbon1h 53m
25. Condensation Chemistry2h 9m
26. Amines1h 43m
27. Heterocycles2h 0m
28. Carbohydrates5h 53m
29. Amino Acids4h 20m
30. Peptides and Proteins2h 42m
31. Catalysis in Organic Reactions1h 30m
32. Lipids 2h 50m
33. The Organic Chemistry of Metabolic Pathways2h 52m
34. Nucleic Acids1h 32m
35. Transition Metals6h 14m
36. Synthetic Polymers1h 49m

13. Alcohols and Carbonyl Compounds

Oxidizing and Reducing Agents

Organic Chemistry

13. Alcohols and Carbonyl Compounds

Oxidizing and Reducing Agents

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2:52 minutes

Problem 2b

Textbook Question

Identify the following reactions as oxidation or reduction (based on what happens to the organic molecule).
(b)

Verified step by step guidance

Step 1: Analyze the starting material, 1-(p-tolyl)ethanone. It contains a methyl group attached to a benzene ring and a ketone functional group.

Step 2: Examine the product, terephthalic acid. It contains two carboxylic acid groups attached to the benzene ring, replacing the methyl group and the ketone group.

Step 3: Identify the reagents used in the reaction. Potassium permanganate (KMnO4) in basic conditions (KOH) followed by acidification (H3O+) is a strong oxidizing agent.

Step 4: Determine the changes in the organic molecule. The methyl group and the ketone group are oxidized to carboxylic acid groups, indicating an increase in the oxidation state of the carbon atoms.

Step 5: Conclude that this reaction is an oxidation reaction because the organic molecule undergoes an increase in oxidation state due to the conversion of the methyl and ketone groups into carboxylic acid groups.

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Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

Oxidation and Reduction

Oxidation and reduction are fundamental concepts in organic chemistry that describe the transfer of electrons between molecules. Oxidation involves the loss of electrons or an increase in oxidation state, while reduction involves the gain of electrons or a decrease in oxidation state. Understanding these processes is crucial for identifying the nature of chemical reactions, particularly in organic transformations.

Oxidizing Agents

Oxidizing agents are substances that facilitate the oxidation of other compounds by accepting electrons. In the given reaction, potassium permanganate (KMnO4) acts as a strong oxidizing agent, converting 1-(p-tolyl)ethanone into terephthalic acid. Recognizing the role of oxidizing agents helps in predicting the products of oxidation reactions in organic chemistry.

Functional Group Transformation

Functional group transformation refers to the conversion of one functional group into another during a chemical reaction. In this case, the carbonyl group (C=O) of 1-(p-tolyl)ethanone is oxidized to form carboxylic acid groups (-COOH) in terephthalic acid. Understanding functional group transformations is essential for predicting the outcomes of organic reactions and the properties of the resulting compounds.

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