Question

How would you convert ethanol into ethane.

Answer 1

Conversion of Ethanol to Ethene:-

Step 1: Formation of Ethene

When Ethanol is reacted with Sulphuric acid$\left({\mathrm{H}}_2{\mathrm{SO}}_4\right)$ at $170°\mathrm{C}$, it undergoes dehydration and forms Ethene:

$\underset{\mathrm{Ethanol}}{{\mathrm{CH}}_3-{\mathrm{CH}}_2-\mathrm{OH}}\underset{\mathrm{Dehydration}}{\overset{{\mathrm{H}}_2{\mathrm{SO}}_4,170°\mathrm{C}}{\to }}\underset{\mathrm{Ethene}}{{\mathrm{CH}}_2={\mathrm{CH}}_2}+\underset{\mathrm{Water}}{{\mathrm{H}}_2\mathrm{O}}$

This conversion of Ethanol to Ethene is a 1 step reaction