Question

Name the compound formed by heating ethanol at 443 K with excess of cone. H₂SO₂. 

(OR) 

What is the compound formed when ethyhalcohol (Ethanol) is dehydrated ? Write the chemical equation of the reaction.

Answer 1

1. When ethanol is heated with excess of cone. H₂SO₄ at 443 K (170° C), it gets dehydrated to form ethene (which is an unsaturated hydrocarbon).

2. During dehydration of ethanol molecules (CH₃ – CH₂OH), H from the CH₃ group and OH from CH₂OH group are removed in the form of a water molecule (H₂O) regulating in the formation of this molecule (CH₂ = CH₂). 

3. In this reaction concentrated sulphuric acid acts as a dehydrating agent.