During oxidation of ethanol to ethanol, the ethanol formed was found to be contaminated with unconverted ethanol, describe how you would obtain ethanal free from ethanol

Ethanol is oxidised by acidified sodium dichromate in a test tube reaction, firstly to form ethanal (acetaldehyde), and with further oxidation, ethanoic acid (acetic acid)

Procedure

Place about 3 cm3 of acidified sodium dichromate solution in a boiling tube.

Use a teat pipette to add 5–7 drops of ethanol, with shaking.

Cool the mixture in the tube under a tap. Note the sweetish smell of ethanal (acetaldehyde) at first, then becoming sharper as oxidation continues and forms ethanoic acid (acetic acid).

When the reaction has subsided, the mixture can be warmed gently; the smell of ethanoic acid will become more noticeable.

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