question_answer

What is the hybridisation state (s) of the atoms in X formed in the following reaction? \[\underset{(vapour)}{\mathop{{{C}_{2}}{{H}_{5}}OH}}\,\xrightarrow[260{{\,}^{o}}C]{A{{l}_{2}}{{O}_{3}}}X\]

A)  \[s{{p}^{3}}\] only          

B)  \[s{{p}^{2}}\]and \[s{{p}^{3}}\]

C)   \[s{{p}^{2}}\]only                         

D)  sp only

Correct Answer: A

Solution :

                 When ethanol vapours are passed over  alumina at \[\text{260}{{\,}^{\text{o}}}\text{C}\]it undergoes partial dehydration and gives ether while at higher temperature (ie, \[\text{360}{{\,}^{\text{o}}}\text{C}\]), it gives ethene. \[\underset{\text{vapours}}{\mathop{{{\text{C}}_{2}}{{H}_{5}}OH}}\,\xrightarrow[260{{\,}^{o}}C]{A{{l}_{2}}{{O}_{3}}}\underset{\begin{smallmatrix}  (X) \\  ether \end{smallmatrix}}{\mathop{{{C}_{2}}{{H}_{5}}-O{{C}_{2}}{{H}_{5}}}}\,\] The structure of X can be written as Hence, in product X all the atoms are \[\text{s}{{\text{p}}^{\text{3}}}\]hybridised.