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

Concepts 1.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, C 3 H 8 O 3 Since all the carbons will be oxidized in this demonstration the oxidation is said to be non-selective CCC HHH HH OH

2.Inorganic Compounds  Inorganic compounds contain elements other than carbon  In this demonstration potassium permanganate is the inorganic compound KMnO 4 is made out of two ions, a cation (K + ) and an anion (MnO 4 - ) Mn O O O O K +

3.Oxidizing and Reducing Agents Reducing agent Oxidizing Agent Substance now reduced Substance now oxidized CO 2 Mn 2 O 3 glycerine KMnO 4

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