Conversion of ethyl alcohol into acetaldehyde is an example of

Options

A. hydrolysis
B. oxidation
C. reduction
D. molecular rearrangement

Explanation

To convert ethyl alcohol (ethanol) into acetaldehyde, we need to understand the type of chemical reaction involved. Here’s a step-by-step breakdown of the conversion process:

### Step 1: Identify the Reactants and Products
- **Reactant**: Ethyl alcohol (C2H5OH or CH3CH2OH)
- **Product**: Acetaldehyde (C2H4O or CH3CHO)

### Step 2: Determine the Type of Reaction
- The conversion of ethyl alcohol to acetaldehyde involves the removal of hydrogen (H) and the addition of an oxygen (O) to form a carbonyl group (C=O). This indicates that a change in oxidation state is occurring.

### Step 3: Recognize the Oxidizing Agent
- In this reaction, a mild oxidizing agent such as Pyridinium Chlorochromate (PCC) is used. PCC is known for selectively oxidizing primary alcohols to aldehydes without further oxidation to carboxylic acids.

### Step 4: Write the Reaction
- The reaction can be represented as:
\[ \text{CH}_3\text{CH}_2\text{OH} \xrightarrow{\text{PCC}} \text{CH}_3\text{CHO} + \text{H}_2\text{O} \]
- Here, ethyl alcohol is oxidized to acetaldehyde.

### Step 5: Conclude the Type of Reaction
- Since the process involves the oxidation of an alcohol to an aldehyde, we conclude that this reaction is an example of **oxidation**.

### Final Answer
The conversion of ethyl alcohol into acetaldehyde is an example of **oxidation**.

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