How do you count for the following observations?
Though alkaline potassium permanganate and acidic potassium permanganate both are used as oxidants, yet in the manufacture of benzoic acid from toluene we use alcoholic potassium permanganate as an oxidant. Why? Write a balanced redox equation for the reaction.
In the manufacture of benzoic acid from toluene, alcoholic potassium permanganate is used as an oxidant because of the following reasons.
(i) KMnO4 and alcohol are homogeneous to each other since both are polar. Similarly, toluene and alcohol are also homogeneous to each other since both are organic compounds. Reactions a proceed at a faster rate in a homogeneous medium than in a heterogeneous medium. Hence, in alcohol, KMnO4 and toluene can react at a faster rate.
The balanced redox equation for the reaction in a neutral medium is given below:
(ii) In a neutral medium, OH- ions are produced in the reaction itself. As a result, the cost of adding an acid or a base can be reduced.