Question

Name the compound formed when ethanol is heated in excess of concentrated sulphuric acid at 443 k in also write the chemical equation of the reaction stating the role of concentrated h2so4 in it. What would happen if hydrogen is added to product of this reaction in the presence of catalyst nickel or palladium . Mention the change in physical state also

Answer 1

When ethanol is heated with excess of concentrated sulphuric acid at 170" C (443K) it gets dehydrated to form ethene (an unsaturated hydrocarbon). CH3-CH2OH (ethanol) → CH2=CH2 (dehydration) + H20 (water) 1) In this reaction, concentrated sulphuric acid acts as a dehydrating agent which removes water molecule from the ethanol molecule. 2) If hydrogen is added to the ethene (product of above reaction) in the presence of catalysts like palladium or nickel then one atom of H adds to each carbon atom of ethene due to which the double bond opens up to form a single bond in ethane.