Question

How do you convert ethane to ethanoic acid? (with equation please).

Answer 1

Ethane can be turned into its carboxylic acid form called the ethanoic acid by a series of steps. First chlirinate it in the presence of light. Then, add potassium hydroxide to get an alcohol. Finally, adding KMnO4 to oxidize it to a carboxylic acid. The equations are as follows:
C2H6 + Cl2 ---> C2H5Cl + HCl
C2H5Cl+KOH-> C2H5OH+ KCl.
C2H5OH ----KMnO4 ---> CH3COOH.

Answer 2

There are three processes involved in the conversion of ethane to ethanoic acid.

In first process, on the chlorination of the ethane in the presence of the sunlight or in the presence of U.V light, ethane converted into ethyl chloride.

In the second process, ethyl chloride react with the aqueous potassium hydroxide to give ethanol.

In the third process, ethanol react with an oxidizing agent (Alkaline potassium permanganate) to give ethanoic acid.

The reaction are shown below.