Define oxidising agents. Explain its role in the oxidation of alcohols to acids. Write the oxidation reaction of ethanol.

(N/A) $(i)$ Substances that are capable of adding oxygen to other substances are known as oxidising agents.
$(ii)$ Alkaline potassium permanganate $(KMnO_4)$ or acidified potassium dichromate $(K_2Cr_2O_7)$ act as oxidising agents because they provide oxygen to oxidise alcohols into carboxylic acids.
$(iii)$ The oxidation reaction of ethanol is:
$CH_3CH_2OH \xrightarrow[\text{Acidified } K_2Cr_2O_7]{\text{Alkaline } KMnO_4} CH_3COOH$