Question
Why is the conversion of ethanol into ethanoic acid an oxidation reaction?

Answer

Oxidation means controlled combustion. When ethanol is heated with alkaline potassium permanganate solution (or acidified potassium dichromate solution), it gets oxidised to ethanoic acid. It is called an oxidation reaction because oxygen is added to it during this conversion.
$\text{CH}_3\text{CH}_2\text{OH}+2[\text{O}]\xrightarrow[\text{or} \ \text{acidified}\text{K}_2\text{Cr}_2\text{O}_7]{ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ {\text{Alkaline}\text{KMnO}_4;\text{Heat}}\ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ }\text{CH}_3\text{COOH}+\text{H}_2\text{O}$

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