question_answer

Name the compound formed when ethanol is heated in excess of cone. sulphuric acid at 443 K. Also write the chemical equation of the reaction stating the role of cone. sulphuric acid in it. What would happen if hydrogen is added to the product of this reaction in the presence of catalysts such as palladium or nickel?

Answer:

Ethene is formed

\[{{C}_{2}}{{H}_{5}}OH\xrightarrow[443K]{Conc.{{H}_{2}}S{{O}_{4}}\mathrm{ }+\Delta }{{H}_{2}}C=C{{H}_{2}}+{{H}_{2}}O\]

Conc. \[{{H}_{2}}S{{O}_{4}}\] acts as a dehydrating agent. If hydrogen is added to the product in presence of a catalyst, ethane is formed.

\[{{H}_{2}}C=C{{H}_{2}}+{{H}_{2}}\xrightarrow{Ni/Pt}{{H}_{3}}C-C{{H}_{3}}\]