How do you account for the following observations ? Though alkaline potassium permanganate and acidic potassium permanganate both are used as oxidants, yet in the manufacture of benzoic acid from toluene we use alcoholic potassium permanganate as an oxidant. Why? Write a balanced redox equation for the reaction.

How do you account for the following observations ? Though alkaline p

1.	How do you account for the following observations ? Though alkaline potassium permanganate and acidic potassium permanganate both are used as oxidants, yet in the manufacture of benzoic acid from toluene we use alcoholic potassium permanganate as an oxidant. Why? Write a balanced redox equation for the reaction.
Answer» SOLUTION :If toluene is subjected to oxidation by using alkaline or acidic `KMnO_(4)`, it is difficult to control oxidation. This leads to the occurrence of side reactions and several other products along with the main product, i.e., benzoic acid may be obtained. THEREFORE, it is preferred to use alcoholic `KMnO_(4)` as an oxidant in place of acidic or alkaline `KMnO_(4)`. The redox reaction is as follows. `underset(("Average O.S.of "C=-(8)/(7)))underset("Toluene")(C_(6)H_(5)CH_(3))+2Koverset(+7)(Mn)O_(4)to2KOH+2overset(+4)(Mn)O_(2)+underset(("Average O.S. of" C=-(2)/(7)))underset("Benzoic acid")(C_(6)H_(5)COOH)`