Question

What do you observe when ethene is passed through an alkaline KMnO₄ solution?

Answer 1

When ethylene is passed through cold alkaline KMnO₄ solution 1, 2-ethanediol is formed. The purple colour of KMnO₄ decolorizes.

\[\begin{array}{cc}
\ce{CH2 = CH2 + H - O - H + [O] -> CH2 - CH2}\\
\phantom{.................................}|\phantom{.......}|\\
\phantom{...................................}\ce{OH}\phantom{....}\ce{OH}
\end{array}\]