Lawrie Ryan and Roger Norris Solutions for Chapter: Carboxylic Acids and their Derivatives, Exercise 4: Question

Carboxylic acids can be prepared by refluxing a primary alcohol with a strong oxidising agent. Why is methanoic acid never prepared by refluxing methanol with acidified potassium dichromate $\left(\mathrm{VI}\right)$ solution?

 Write two half-equations for the oxidation of ethanedioic acid.

In titration between ethanedioic acid and potassium manganate(VII) solutions, ethanedioic acid is heated in its conical flask before adding the potassium manganate(VII) solution from the burette. Suggest why.

In an experiment to standardise a solution of potassium manganate(VII), $25.0 {\mathrm{cm}}^3$ of a standard solution of $0.0500 \mathrm{mol} {\mathrm{dm}}^{-3}$ ethanedioic acid was fully oxidised by a titre of $8.65 {\mathrm{cm}}^3$ of potassium manganate(VII) solution. Calculate the concentration of the potassium manganate(VII) solution.