Question

Write the structural formula of ethanol. What happens when it is heated with excess of conc. `H_(2)SO_(4)` acid at 443 K? Write the chemical equation for the reaction, starting the role of conc. `H_(2)SO_(4)` acid in this reaction.

Answer 1

Structural formula of ethanol:
`H-underset(H)underset(|)overset(H)overset(|)(C)-underset(H)underset(|)overset(H)overset(|)(C)-OH`
On heating ethanol with conc. `H_(2)SO_(4)` acid ethene gas is procuced.
`underset("Ethanol")(CH_(3)CH_(2)OH) underset(443K) overset(Conc.H_(2)SO_(4))(to) underset("Ethene")(C_(2)H_(4))+H_(2)O`
`Conc. H_(2)SO_(4)` acid acts as dehydrating agent which absorbs the released water.