These reactions we have seen in the earlier sections. Incomplete oxidation of alcohols leads to organic acids. Incomplete oxidation is achieved by providing nascent oxygen for the reaction. When air is made to pass over heated copper, oxygen from air can break into atomic or nascent oxygen. This is made to react with an alcohol to give organic acid and water.
Copper is a catalyst.
When methanol is used as a starting material, methanoic acid is formed. If ethanol is used as a starting material, ethanoic acid is formed. Ethanoic acid is also called acetic acid or vinegar. Vinegar has many uses. For industrial production of vinegar, ethanol is acted upon by bacteria which gives rise to incomplete oxidation of ethanol.