2 H2OK2CrO4 + 3 C2H5OH + 5 H2SO4 → 3 CH3CHO + Cr2(SO4)3 + 2 K2SO4 + 10 H2O
This is an oxidation-reduction (redox) reaction:
3 C-II - 9 e- → 3 CI (oxidation)
3 C-II + 3 e- → 3 C-III (reduction)
2 CrVI + 6 e- → 2 CrIII (reduction)
C2H5OH is a reducing agent, C2H5OH is an oxidizing agent, H2OK2CrO4 is an oxidizing agent.