IIT JEE , AIEEE Forum - Chemistry , Organic Chemistry - How to find which group is more oxidised?

Utsav55

Suppose any 2 groups are given. How can I find that which which group is more oxidised than the other?

Eg: Which is more oxidised COOH or CH2OH.

Plz give the explaination on how to find.

Thanks

mukundmadhav

The compound which contains more number of oxygen atoms, is in general more oxidised for same length of carbon chain.. Alternatively, and more accurately you can assign a +2 charge to the carbon atom for each double bond o attached to the carbon and +1 for each single bond o attached to the carbon atom. Sum it up for the molecule.. The one with more +ve charge per carbon atom is more oxidised

Utsav55

The one with more +ve charge per carbon atom is more oxidised.

What if the group contains more than 1 Carbon atom?? and also do we have to see the charge on C ONLY and put +2 and +1 from bonds and nothing if H or any other atom is present??

Thanks

mukundmadhav

That's why i've written per carbon atom na.. You find total charge and divide by number of carbon atoms.
H and C have almost the same electronegatiity.. So nothing for them.. for all other groups consider electronegativity.. If more electronegative then + charge on Carbon, if less then - charge on carbon.

tarinbansal

See, just find the oxidation state of C in each case.
More the oxi state, more it is oxidised.

For finding oxi state, consider each bond to be ionic.
Now O>C>H(electronegativity)

So in R-COOH
Oxi state of C = +3 (+2 from C=O and +1 from C-OH)

And in CH2OH
oxi state of C= -1 ( -2 from 2 C-H bonds and +1 from C-OH)

So C is more oxidised in COOH

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