Skip to content
Clear highlightsClear Highlight Report a problem

Oxidation of Alkenes to Diols

A diol is a compound containing two hydroxyl -OH groups. On oxidising an alkene with acidified potassium manganate(VII) two -OH groups are added across the double bond. The reaction is an addition and an oxidation. Water in the solution provides two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom whilst the potassium manganate(VII) provides the other oxygen atom. During the reaction, the potassium manganate(VII) solution turns from purple to colourless.The equation for the reaction isCH2=CH2 + [O] + H2O → CH2OH-CH2OH

Read the text

Read the text and highlight anything you think is important. When you go on, the text is hidden and you answer from memory.

Next

Specification: OCR Chemistry A (H432), A-level, 4.1.3 Alkenes. Topic: Alkenes.

Key terms in this lesson

addition
A reaction in which a pi bond is broken and atoms or groups are added across it to form a saturated product, with no atoms lost.
oxidation
A reaction in which hydrogen atoms are removed from, or oxygen atoms are added to, an organic molecule.

More in Alkenes

All 11 lessons in Alkenes · All OCR A-level Organic Chemistry topics