Explain the purpouse of reflux in the oxidation of ethanol to ethanoic acid

Reflux apparatus is when a distillation tube is surrounded by an apparatus that pumps cold water around it in order to condense its compounds in the mixture
As ethanol has a low boiling point, it evaporates fairly quickly.This means some of the ethanol may escape before it has been fully oxidised ino a carboxylic acid. Reflux therefore allows ethanol to be condensed back into liquid form to ensure all of the reactants are used up in the reaction. This will help increase the yield of ethanoic acid.

MA

Related Chemistry A Level answers

All answers ▸

Thinking about the periodicity of the period 3 elements, explain the structure of the Sodium and Phosphorus Oxides and the acid-base behaviour of the Oxide solutions.


Describe, in three steps, how you would synthesise phenylethylamine (C6H5CH2CH2NH2) from methylbenzene, giving reagents and conditions for each step. For each step, state the type of reaction that occurs.


Name the reagent and explain the process of 1-bromoethane into propanoic acid


What is an enthalpy change?