Question

Question 54
How would you bring about the following conversions? Name the process and write the reaction involved.

(a) Ethanol to ethene

(b) Propanol to propanoic acid

Answer 1

(a) By the dehydration of ethanol in the presence of concentrated ${\text{H}}_2{\text{SO}}_4$.

${\text{CH}}_3{\text{CH}}_2\text{OH}\to {\text{CH}}_2={\text{CH}}_2+{\text{H}}_2\text{O}$

(b) By oxidation of propanol using an oxidizing agent such as alkaline ${\text{KMnO}}_4$.

${\text{CH}}_3{\text{CH}}_2{\text{CH}}_2\text{OH}\to {\text{CH}}_3{\text{CH}}_2\text{COOH}$