The carbon atom of a carboxyl group has a high oxidation state. Therefore, that many of the chemical reactions used for their preparation are oxidations. In this experiment, an aromatic carboxylic acids namely benzoic acid will be prepared by oxidizing benzyl alcohol which is a primary alcohol. The oxidizing agent used is alkaline potassium permanganate (VII). Benzyl alcohol is an aromatic alcohol with the formula C6H5CH2OH. It is a primary alcohol because the carbon atom which the hydroxyl group,-OH group is connected joins to one alkyl group and two hydrogen atoms. …show more content…
"[O]" is representing oxygen from the oxidising