Hi Natalina, also been a while, hope you're doing OK!
>> I need some help with writing chemical equations that show the reactions that produce vinegar from ethanol. <<
The oxidation of ethanol first gives acetaldehyde, followed by further oxidation to acetic acid (actually acetate ion at physiological pH). Vinegar is about 5% acetic acid in water, by weight.
From http://www.elmhurst.edu/~chm/vchembook/642alcoholmet.html:
The first step in the metabolism of alcohol is the oxidation of ethanol to acetaldehyde catalyzed by alcohol/dehydrogenase containing the coenzyme NAD+. The acetaldehyde is further oxidized to acetic acid and finally CO2 and water through the citric acid cycle. A number of metabolic effects from alcohol are directly linked to the production of an excess of both NADH and acetaldehyde.
CH3CH2OH + NAD+ ––�?gt; CH3CH=O + NADH + H+
CH3CH2OH + NADPH + O2 ––�?gt; CH3CHO + NADP+ + H2O.
From http://web.indstate.edu/thcme/mwking/glycolysis.html#ethanol:Animal cells (primarily hepatocytes) contain the cytosolic enzyme alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) which oxidizes ethanol to acetaldehyde. Acetaldehyde then enters the mitochondria where it is oxidized to acetate by acetaldehyde dehydrogenase (AcDH).
CH3CHO + NAD+ (+ H2O) ––�?gt; CH3COOH + NADH + H+
Steve
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