Question

A student placed 2 drops of an unknown sample in a test tube and added 2 mL of ethanol to the test tube while mixing gently. They added 2 drops of potassium permanganate reagent to the test tube and mixed the contents of the test tube gently. The initial color was a deep purple but then changed to a yellow color which precipitates as a brown solid. What compound is most likely the unknown

Answer 1

Answer:

2-propanol

Explanation:

From the given information

2 drops of an unknown sample were said to be placed in a test tube followed by the addition of 2 ml of ethanol then gentle mixing. They then initiate a further addition of  2 drops of potassium permanganate reagent (KMNO₄) to the test tube and mixed the contents of the test tube thoroughly. After adding 2 drops of potassium permanganate reagent, the reagent oxidizes the secondary alcohols(2-propanol) to ketone(i.e acetone) and no further reaction will take place since there are no reactive C-H bonds left. The diagram attached below shows how the reaction proceeds.