Final answer:
Ethanol (C₂H₅OH) is converted to ethanoic acid (CH₃COOH) via an oxidation reaction, typically using an oxidizing agent like potassium dichromate in the presence of sulfuric acid, and the simplified chemical equation is C₂H₅OH + 2O → CH₃COOH + H₂O.
Step-by-step explanation:
The conversion of ethanol to ethanoic acid is typically achieved through an oxidation reaction. In a laboratory setting, this is often done using an oxidizing agent like potassium dichromate (K₂Cr₂O₇) in the presence of sulfuric acid (H₂SO₄). The chemical equation representing the oxidation of ethanol (C₂H₅OH) to ethanoic acid (CH₃COOH) can be written as follows:
C₂H₅OH + 2O → CH₃COOH + H₂O
Here, the [O] symbol represents the oxygen atom supplied by the oxidizing agent, which is necessary for the transformation of the alcohol group (-OH) into the carboxylic acid group (-COOH). The reaction is simplified and does not show the full mechanism or the actual oxidizing agent used, which provides the necessary oxygen atoms.