Animated Solution for Chemistry - Hydrocarbons: Which of the following reagent is used for the following reaction ? ${\text{CH}}_3{\text{CH}}_2{\text{CH}}_3⟶{\text{CH}}_3{\text{CH}}_2\text{CHO}$

Alkanes are notoriously unreactive under normal laboratory conditions. Their strong, non-polar $\text{C}-\text{C}$ and $\text{C}-\text{H}$ bonds make them resistant to attack by common acids, bases, and oxidizing agents. However, this doesn't mean they are completely invincible. Under drastic conditions—such as high temperatures, high pressures, and in the presence of specific catalysts—alkanes can undergo a fascinating process known as controlled oxidation.

When you burn an alkane in the presence of excess oxygen, it undergoes complete oxidation (combustion) to yield carbon dioxide and water.

But what if we want to stop halfway? What if we want an alcohol, an aldehyde, or a carboxylic acid? This is where the magic of specific catalysts comes into play. The choice of catalyst acts like a brake, stopping the oxidation process at the exact functional group we desire.

Let's break down the specific reagents used for different stages of alkane oxidation:

1. Copper ($\text{Cu}$) at High Temperature and Pressure: When a mixture of an alkane and oxygen is passed through a copper tube at $523\text{ K}$ and $100\text{ atm}$, the oxidation stops at the alcohol stage.

2. Molybdenum Oxide (${\text{Mo}}_2{\text{O}}_3$): If we want to synthesize an aldehyde, we use Molybdenum oxide upon heating. This catalyst is perfectly tuned to halt the oxidation right after the aldehyde is formed, preventing it from turning into an acid. In our specific problem, propane is converted to propanal:

3. Manganese Acetate $({\text{CH}}_3\text{COO}{)}_2\text{Mn}$: To push the oxidation one step further to a carboxylic acid, we employ Manganese acetate.

Memorizing these specific catalysts is a high-yield strategy for JEE. While the question directly asked for the reagent to form an aldehyde (Molybdenum oxide), understanding the entire spectrum of controlled oxidation empowers you to tackle any variation of this concept.