Question

What happens when the vapour of ethanol is passed over heated copper catalyst at 573 K?

• A. Acetone will be formed.
• B. Acetaldehyde will be formed.
• C. Ehanoic acid will be formed.
• D. Ethyl ethanoate will be formed.

Answer 1

The correct option is B

Acetaldehyde will be formed.

When the vapour of ethanol is passed over the heated copper catalyst at 573 K, it is dehydrogenated to acetaldehyde.

${\text{CH}}_3{\text{CH}}_2\text{OH}\underset{573K}{\overset{\text{Cu}}{\to }}{\text{CH}}_3\text{CHO}+{\text{H}}_2$

Ethanol Acetaldehyde