Type of Reaction: Ethene + Steam --> Ethanol

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The discussion centers on the chemical reaction of ethene with steam to produce ethanol, specifically identifying the type of reaction. The student initially identified it as oxidation, but was corrected to "addition" by their teacher. The teacher noted that determining a change in oxidation number is challenging in this context. The conversation explores the concept of oxidation and reduction in addition reactions, highlighting that while one reactant may be oxidized and the other reduced, the overall reaction is classified as addition due to the formation of a single product from two reactants. The participants agree that counting electrons can help identify oxidation states, but it is not straightforward in addition reactions.
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Hi everyone. I'm a high school student. Recently I have been doing some past papers to prepare for the public exam in April. The reaction "ethene + steam ----> ethanol" is given and I was asked to name the type of reaction. I answered oxidation but the answer is addition. Later I asked my teacher and he said oxidation is wrong as the change in oxidation number is hard to find. What I think is simply that there's an extra O atom added to the compound. Is this thought wrong?
 
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... and, water has been reduced ... It's an "addition."
 
How can we find the change in oxidation number in the reaction? Is it possible?
 
Colin Cheng said:
How can we find the change in oxidation number in the reaction?
In general? Count electrons.
Colin Cheng said:
Is it possible?
Not for an addition reaction; the single product is the combination of two reactants, one of which may have been oxidized and the other reduced. But, which is which?
 
Ok got it, thanks
 

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