Why is the conversion of ethanol to ethanoic acid an oxidation reaction?

Explanation

To understand why the conversion of ethanol to ethanoic acid is considered an oxidation reaction, we can break down the process step by step.

### Step 1: Identify the Structures
- **Ethanol (C2H5OH)**: Ethanol is an alcohol with the structure containing a hydroxyl (-OH) group.
- **Ethanoic Acid (C2H4O2)**: Ethanoic acid, also known as acetic acid, contains a carboxyl (-COOH) group.

### Step 2: Understand the Reaction
- The conversion of ethanol to ethanoic acid involves the addition of an oxidizing agent, commonly potassium dichromate (K2Cr2O7), which facilitates the reaction.
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