Home > Community > What happens when oxalic acid reacts with an acidic solution of potassium dichromate?
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+ Chemical reactions
+ Potassium dichromate
+ Oxalic acid
+ Potassium
+ Chemistry
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Nick Roberts

What happens when oxalic acid reacts with an acidic solution of potassium dichromate?

Andrew Kiener  Follow

Potassium dichromate VI on heating,oxidizes ethanol to ethanoic acidified orange potassium dichromate VI turns green due to the reduction of chromate ions( Cr2O7 2-) to chromium ions (Cr3+)

CH3CH2OH(l)….MnO4-/2H+…>CH3COOH(aq)+H2O (l)

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Barry F  Follow

Some of the oxalic acid is oxidized to CO2 while the dichromate is reduced to Cr+++. Then three oxalates chelate the chromium and you can crystallize a beautiful potassium tris oxalato chromium salt K3Cr (C2O4)3. The equation does not balance nicely because there is a deficiency of potassium, so there will be Cr+++ left in solution. It works better with potassium chromate K2CrO4 (more potassium).

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