Thanks for your answer DrBob. I am still stumped.The question I was asked to answer is
Do acetic acid and stearic acid undergo controlled oxidation reactions? Explain why/why not and draw an equation to illustrate the answer.
I can't find anything in my books about oxidation of carboxylic acids. Lots of material on reduction as well as on changing to acid chlorides, esters, nitriles, etc, but nothing on oxidation. Since -COOH already represents the ultimate, my best guess is no, acetic acid and stearic acid are oxidized to CO2 and H2O but get a second opinion.
thanks DrBob ..I appreciate the help. I have tried many searches for the answer on the internet and felt the answer was no as I found nothing.I understand the idea of going to CO2 and H2O. I also don't think that just an O molecule can be added. Thanks again.
Adding an O would make a superoxide and I don't know of any instances in organic of RCOOOH molecules although they are known in inorganic (KO2, for example).
h2o means water haha
To determine whether acetic acid and stearic acid undergo controlled oxidation reactions, we need to understand the properties of these compounds and the conditions required for controlled oxidation reactions.
Acetic acid is a carboxylic acid with the chemical formula CH3COOH. It is a weak acid and can be oxidized under specific conditions. On the other hand, stearic acid is a long-chain fatty acid with the chemical formula C18H36O2. It consists of a carboxylic acid group attached to a long hydrocarbon chain.
Controlled oxidation reactions generally involve the addition of an oxidizing agent to the compound of interest. The oxidizing agent accepts electrons from the compound being oxidized, causing a change in its oxidation state.
In the case of acetic acid, it can undergo controlled oxidation to form carbon dioxide and water. This reaction can be illustrated by the following equation:
CH3COOH + 2[O] -> CO2 + H2O
Here, [O] represents the oxidizing agent, which is typically a strong oxidizing agent such as potassium permanganate (KMnO4) or potassium dichromate (K2Cr2O7).
Stearic acid, on the other hand, is a saturated fatty acid and is relatively stable under controlled oxidation conditions. Due to its long hydrocarbon chain, stearic acid does not readily undergo oxidation reactions. Hence, it does not undergo controlled oxidation reactions under normal circumstances.
In conclusion, acetic acid can undergo controlled oxidation reactions, while stearic acid is not easily oxidized under controlled conditions.