Question

Which of the following compounds will give butanone on oxidation with alkaline $KMn{{O}_{4}}$ solution?
A. Butan-1-ol
B. Butan-2-ol
C. Both of these
D. None of these

Answer 1

There are two terms known to us oxidation and reductions both the terms are related with oxygen in which gaining and losing of oxygen atom occurs i.e. in case of oxidation gaining of oxygen occurs whereas in case of reduction loss of oxygen atom can be seen.

Complete step-by-step answer: Loss of electrons can be seen in case of oxidation process and gain of electrons in reduction process. Oxidation and reduction occur simultaneously as we know that electrons can neither be created nor be destroyed; they can only transfer from one substance to another. So the number of electrons lost are always equal to the number of electrons gained.
The given product formed is butanone which have a ketonic group in it and shown by the molecular formula $C{{H}_{3}}-CHOH-C{{H}_{2}}-C{{H}_{3}}\to C{{H}_{3}}COC{{H}_{2}}C{{H}_{3}}$ $C{{H}_{3}}-CO-C{{H}_{2}}-C{{H}_{3}}$where the group $CO$is ketonic group. Alkaline $KMn{{O}_{4}}$acts as an oxidizing agent where oxidizing agent are those substances which tends to oxidize other substances or we can say increase the oxidation state of the substance by losing the electrons so the reaction occurs is said to be oxidation which can be shown as:
$C{{H}_{3}}-CHOH-C{{H}_{2}}-C{{H}_{3}}\to C{{H}_{3}}COC{{H}_{2}}C{{H}_{3}}$
i.e. butan-2-ol reacts with alkaline $KMn{{O}_{4}}$to give butan-2-one.

Hence option B is the correct answer.

Note: Oxidizing agent can be defined according to two concepts which are as an electron transfer i.e. those substances which remove one electron from another atom and as an atom transferring in which it transfers at least one electronegative atom to another.