(a) Describe, giving equation, a chemical reaction which is characteristic of saturated hydrocarbons (or alkanes).
(b) What is an oxidising agent? Name two oxidising agents which can oxidise ethanol to ethanoic acid.
(c) Describe one reaction of a carboxylic acid.
(a) Substitution reaction of methane with chlorine: Methane reacts with chlorine in t he presence of sunlight to form chloromethane and hydrogen chloride.
CH4 + Cl2 + Sunlight → CH3Cl + HCl
(b) An oxidising agent is one which oxidises other substances by providing oxygen or removing hydrogen. Alkaline potassium permanganate and acidified potassium dichromate can be used as oxidising agents.
(c) Reaction with alcohols: Ethanoic acid reacts with alcohols in the presence of a little of conc. sulphuric acid to form esters.
CH3COOH + C2H5OH + Conc. H2SO4 → CH3COOC2H5 + H2O