Difference in the functioning of alkaline and acidified KMnO4?

Question

What is the difference in the functioning of alkaline and acidified $\\ce{KMnO4}$ as a reagent in organic chemistry? E.g., in the oxidation of a primary alcohol to carboxylic acid, we use acidified $\\ce{KMnO4}$ and not alkaline $\\ce{KMnO4}$. Why?

Answer 1

Acidified KMnO₄ will yield the carboxylic acid product directly.

In contrast, alkaline-KMnO₄ will first form the carboxylate salt, which then needs to be acidified to form the carboxylic acid product.

Acidified-KMnO₄, therefore, yields the product without the need of an additional intermediary step.