Question

The reagent which can do the conversion $CH _{3} COOH \longrightarrow CH _{3}- CH _{2}- OH$ is

• A. $LiAIH_4$ / ether
• B. $H_2, Pt$
• C. $NaBH_4$
• D. $Na$ and $C_2H_5OH$

Answer 1

Answer: (A)

$LiAIH_4$ / ether

Answer 2

$\underset{\text{Ethanoic acid}}{CH _{3} COOH} \xrightarrow{\text { LiAlH }_{4} / \text { ether }} \underset{\text{Ethanol}}{CH _{3} CH _{2} OH}$

The reagent that can convert acetic acid (${CH_3COOH}$) to ethanol (${CH_3CH_2OH}$) is a reducing agent. One commonly used reducing agent for this conversion is lithium aluminum hydride (${LiAlH_4}$) or sodium borohydride (${NaBH_4}$).

The reaction with lithium aluminum hydride (${LiAlH_4}$) can be represented as follows:

${CH_3COOH}+{4LiAlH_4}\rightarrow{CH_3CH_2OH}+{Al(OH)_3}+{4LiH}$

This reaction reduces the carboxylic acid functional group (${COOH}$) of acetic acid to an alcohol functional group (${CH_3CH_2OH}$) in ethanol.

It's important to note that this reaction is typically carried out under specific conditions, and caution should be exercised when working with reactive chemical reagents.