Question

How is ethanol converted to ethene? Give one balanced equation.

Answer 1

In an organic reaction, the reagent reacts with a reactant molecule to produce an intermediate which is converted into final products.

A functional group is defined as a group of atoms that exist in a molecule and describes the characteristics reactions of organic compounds is called a functional group.

The dehydration of alcohol is defined as a reaction in which alcohol reacts with an organic acid to remove water molecules and forms unsaturated alkenes as the major product.

The reaction of Ethanol (${\mathrm{C}}_2{\mathrm{H}}_5\mathrm{OH}$) with Sulphuric acid (${\mathrm{H}}_2{\mathrm{SO}}_4$) at temperature $170°\mathrm{C}$ forms the Ethene (${\mathrm{C}}_2{\mathrm{H}}_4$) and Water (${\mathrm{H}}_2\mathrm{O}$).

The balanced chemical equation is written as:

$$\begin{gathered} {\mathrm{C}}_2{\mathrm{H}}_5\mathrm{OH}\stackrel{{\mathrm{H}}_2{\mathrm{SO}}_4}{\to }{\mathrm{C}}_2{\mathrm{H}}_4+{\mathrm{H}}_2\mathrm{O} \\ \mathrm{ethanol}\mathrm{ethene}\mathrm{water} \end{gathered}$$