Question

How could you convert ethanol to ethene?

Answer 1

Ethanol can be dehydrated to give ethene by heating with conc. H2S04

H2S04 act as a catalyst in the reaction…

C2H50H---- C2H4+H20

Answer 2

Explanation:

Treat the ethanol with with excess of sulfuric acid at high temperature more than 170 °Cl result in the formation of ethene.

$C_2H_5OH+H_2SO_4\overset{170^oC}\rightarrow CH_2=CH_2$

The reaction follows the E-2 mechanism route of Elimination reaction.

$H^*-CH_2-CH_2OH+H_2SO_4\rightarrow H^*-CH_2-CH_2-OH_{2}^++HSO_{4}^-$

$H^*-CH_2-CH_2-OH_{2}^++HSO_{4}^-\rightarrow CH_2=CH_2+H^*HSO_4+H_2O$

Here in this sulfuric acid is acting as dehydrating agent and catalyst both.