Studies of reaction kinetics of monohydric alcohols by acid permanganate

Abstract

The kinetics of the reaction of methanol and ethanol with acid permanganate was studied. The reactions were found to be first order with respect to permanganate ion concentration in both cases. The Arrhenius equation has found to be valid in the temperature range of the experiments. The rate constant increased with the increase of H^+ ion concentration. Mn (II) ions retarded the rate of reaction. The thermodynamic parameters, i.e. ΔE, log_10PZ and -ΔS have been calculated. The mechanism proposed by Ardon for the oxidation of alcohol accounts for the kinetics of the oxidation of methanol and ethanol by permanganate. It is suggested that the reacting species of manganese is Mn (III) and the reactants pass through a transition state involving the alcohols and Mn (III).