Section 9.7 - Combustion and Oxidation
This section covers two significant reactions in organic chemistry: combustion and controlled oxidation.
Combustion
- Combustion refers to the reaction of organic compounds with oxygen, which yields carbon dioxide (CO₂) and water (H₂O), alongside releasing heat.
- A common example is the combustion of methane:
CH₄ + 2O₂ → CO₂ + 2H₂O + heat
This reaction exemplifies how hydrocarbons burn to release energy, making combustion crucial for energy production.
Controlled Oxidation
- Controlled oxidation processes involve converting alcohols into acids.
- An example is the oxidation of ethanol to acetic acid in the presence of an oxidizing agent like potassium dichromate (K₂Cr₂O₇):
C₂H₅OH + [O] → K₂Cr₂O₇/H⁺ → CH₃COOH + H₂O
This transformation shows the utility of controlled oxidation in organic synthesis, indicating the broader implications of these reactions within organic chemistry.