Question

Assertion :Rectified spirit can be further purified by adding a dehydrating agent.
Reason: Addition of $H_{2}S{O}_4$ to 96% ethyl alcohol gives 100% ethyl alcohol.

• A. Both Assertion and Reason are correct and Reason is the correct explanation for Assertion
• B. Both Assertion and Reason are correct but Reason is not the correct explanation for Assertion
• C. Assertion is correct but Reason is incorrect
• D. Both Assertion and Reason are incorrect

Answer 1

The correct option is C Assertion is correct but Reason is incorrect

A rectified spirit is a mixture with a composition of ethanol 95% and water with 5%. However, to attain a pure form of ethanol, one more separation step is required, so that the water content in rectified spirit is removed completely. One was using quicklime $\left(CaO\right)$ to absorb water content and finally contacting the solution with anhydrous copper sulphate removes the leftover traces of water.

Hence, a Rectified spirit can be further purified by adding a dehydrating agent which is $CaO$.

The addition of $H_{2}S{O}_4$ to ethanol at high temperature gives another product i.e. ethene and water. So the reason is incorrect.

Hence, the assertion is CORRECT, but the reason is INCORRECT.

option $C$ is correct.