Oxidation of alcohols MCQ - Practice Questions with Answers

In this reaction, ethanol is converted into ethanoic acid. That conversion involves oxidation, because the carbon compound gains oxygen and moves to a higher oxidation level. Alkaline KMnO4 supplies the oxidising action, so it acts as an oxidising agent. A reducing agent would reduce another substance, which is not happening here. A catalyst would speed up the reaction without being consumed in the redox change. A dehydrating agent removes water, whereas this reaction changes an alcohol into a carboxylic acid through oxidation.