A liquid is added to a small pile of substance. After a brief time a large puff of smoke and violet flames are produced

Oxidation of An Organic Compound

Purpose To observe the oxidation of an

organic compound by an inorganic oxidizing agent

Demonstration The reaction had a short

induction time

The reaction was exothermic

The “smoke” was the manganese(III) oxide product

Potassium produced the violet flame

Concepts1. Organic Compounds

2. Inorganic Compounds

3. Oxidizing and Reducing Agents

1. Organic Compounds Organic compounds are compounds that

contain primarily the element carbon In this demonstration glycerine is the

organic compound, C3H8O3

• Since all the carbons will be oxidized in this demonstration the oxidation is said to be non-selective

CC C

H H H

HH

OH OH OH

2. Inorganic Compounds Inorganic compounds contain elements

other than carbon

In this demonstration potassium permanganate is the inorganic compound

KMnO4 is made out of two ions, a cation (K+) and an anion (MnO4

-)

Mn

O

O

OO K+

3. Oxidizing and Reducing Agents

Reducingagent

OxidizingAgent

Substance now reduced

Substancenow oxidized

CO2 Mn2O3

glycerine KMnO4

Conclusions An organic compounds may be

oxidized to carbon dioxide with an inorganic oxidizing agent such as potassium permanganate

Heat was liberated in the course of an oxidation reactions—this means the reaction is exothermic

The organic compound was oxidized while the inorganic substance was simultaneously reduced

Comments Organic substances such as wood, paper, and

gasoline undergo oxidation reactions when they burn

In oxidation reactions

carbon is converted to carbon dioxide

hydrogen is converted to water