Jmap science - 6-11-2013 at 09:54
Because salicylic acid acts as a alcohol is it possible to use KMnO4 to further oxidize the hydroxyl group to a carboxylic acid, yielding MnO2 and
Potassium 1,2 benzoic acid. Im just a beginner in organic chemistry. 
DraconicAcid - 6-11-2013 at 09:59
Where would the extra carbon come from? Salicylic acid is a phenol- an oxidizing agent such as KMnO4 is not going to do the conversion ROH
-> RCO2H.
Lambda-Eyde - 6-11-2013 at 09:59
No. If you study the structures of the two side by side (and understand what the structural formulae tell you) you should be able to figure out why.
Also, such topics belong in the "Beginnings" section.
Hexavalent - 6-11-2013 at 14:57
I'm feeling quite patient this evening, so I've made a quick reaction scheme for what you are proposing, showing all of the carbon atoms in addition
to the standard functional groups and terminal carbons. As you can see in red and as DraconicAcid
pointed out, a carbon magically appears in your product, which is impossible.
[Edited on 6-11-2013 by Hexavalent]
deltaH - 6-11-2013 at 23:32
In 2053 the nobel prize for chemistry shall have been awarded (sorry tenses get very complicated with time travel) for the development of a
homogeneous catalyst that inserts CO resulting in the conversion of a phenolic group to an aromatic carboxylic acid.
In his acceptance speech, said winner will have gone on to state that inspiration for this came from a science forum some forty years prior 
EDIT:
Huh... I've just checked the rule book and apparently while I am not permitted to give the details of this, I am permitted of giving abstract
clues about it... so here goes:
[Edited on 7-11-2013 by deltaH]
bfesser - 7-11-2013 at 09:37
Alright, the OP's question has been answered, and this thread is now obsolete. [closed]
<img src="../scipics/_warn.png" /> deltaH, save the spam for Whimsy. <img src="../scipics/_warn.png" />