Propanol to propanoic acid | alcohol to carboxylic acid
Propanol and propanoic acid belongs to alcohol and carboxylic acid compounds respectively. Propanol can be converted to propanoic acid from one step and also propanol can be prepared from propanoic acid by one step. Both propanol and propanoic acid are acidic compounds. Propanol and propanoic acid react to give propyl propanoate in the presence of sulfuric acid.
Propanol : CH3CH2CH2OH
Propanoic acid : CH3CH2COOH
In this tutorial we discuss about followings.
- General alcohols to carboxylic acid reaction
- Propanol to propanoic acid conversion
- Carboxylic acids to alcohols - propanoic acid to propanol
- propanoic acid and propanol reaction
Alcohols to carboxylic acid reaction
Alcohols can be oxidized to carboxylic acids using following chemicals. These are strong oxidizing agents. This reaction is a redox reaction (oxidation - reduction reaction).
- acidic permanganate - H+ / MnO4-
- acidic dichromate - H+ / Cr2O72-
- acidic chromate ion - H+ / CrO42-
Propanol to propanoic acid reaction
Propanol reacts with strong oxidizing agents such as H+ / KMnO4 or H+ / K2CrO4 or H+ / K2Cr2O7 to give propanoic acid. In this reaction, propanol is oxidized to propanoic acid
How to convert propanol to propanoic acid without strong oxidizing agents?
You can convert propanol to propanal by PCC. Propanal is an aldehyde compound. Then propanal is treated with tollen's reagent or fehlingh's reagent to prepare propanoic acid.
Carboxylic acids to alcohols
Carboxylic acids can be converted to alcohols by LiAlH4 / ether. A primary alcohol compound is given from this reaction.
Propanoic acid to propanol reaction
Propanoic acid reacts with LiAlH4 / ether to give propanone.
Propanol and propanoic acid reaction
Alcohols and carboxylic acids react and give esters. This reaction is catalyzed by concentrated sulfuric acid. Hence propanol reacts with propanoic acid in the presence of concentrated H2SO4 acid to give propyl propanoate which is an ester compound.
Questions asked about propanol and propanoic acid
In my lab, I don't have propanol. But, I have iso-propanol. How do I prepare propanoic acid from iso-propanol?
However, if you want to prepare propanoic acid, you have to prepare propanol. That means, we have to prepare propanol from iso-propanol. Steps of converting iso-propaanol to propanol are given below.
- Convert iso-propanol to propene by hot concentrated sulfuric acid.
- Prepare 1-bromopropane by mixxing propene and HBr in the presence of organic peroxide.
- Then, add diluute NaOH to prepare propanol.
What type of reaction produces propanoic acid from propanol
Propanol is oxidized to give propanoicacid. Therefore this is an oxidation - reduction (redox) reaction.
Can I reduce propanoic acid to propanol using NaBH4?
NaBH4 does not have enough power to reduce carboxylic acid to alcohols.
Similarities between propanol and propanoic acid
Alcohols and carboxylic acids react with reactive metals such as sodium or potassium. So propanol and propanoic acid react with Na and show acidic characteristics.
What type of reaction produces propanoic acid from propanol
A redox reaction. Redox reaction is a oxidizing - reducing reaction. One chemical is oxidized and another one is reduced.