Answer to Question #150352 in Organic Chemistry for Dan Henry C. Oriola

Question

To my additional question for my homework:

Make a general statement about the susceptibility of carboxylic acids to a strong oxidizing agent and compare it with that of alcohols and aldehydes.

- thank you

Answer 1

In carboxylic acid, the carbon atom of the COOH group is already in high oxidation state. This means that in order to reach a higher oxidation state (+4), it requires breaking the C—C bond, typically to form molecular CO2. This can only occur in strongly oxidizing conditions and the reaction is known as a decarboxylation reaction.

What this means is that carboxylic acids aren't easily oxidized except by strong oxidizing agents.

Alcohols and Aldehydes however are easily oxidized. Alcohols are reducing agents that are oxidized into aldehydes, and aldehydes are an even stronger reducing agent which are oxidized to carboxylic acids.