Carboxylic acids can undergo reduction reactions. Reduction is the opposite of oxidation. For example, ethanoic acid (CH 3 COOH) can be formed by the oxidation of ethanol as shown below.

Sodium oxide and potassium oxide dissolve in water to produce alkalis: • Na 2 O(s) + H 2 O (l) → 2 NaOH ... react in the presence of an acid or a base to give back the alcohol and carboxylic ...