Question

When excess of ethanol is heated with conc. $H_{2}S{O}_4$ at 413K, it undergoes ___.

• A. Oxidation reaction
• B. Reduction reaction
• C. Intramolecular dehydration
• D. Intermolecular dehydration

Answer 1

The correct option is D

Intermolecular dehydration

When excess of ethanol is heated with conc. $H_{2}S{O}_4$ at 413K, it undergoes intermolecular dehydration. (i.e. removal of water from two molecules of ethanol) to give diethyl ether.

${\text{C}}_2{\text{H}}_5-\text{OH}+\text{HO}-{\text{C}}_2{\text{H}}_5\underset{413K}{\overset{Conc.H_2{SO}_4}{\to }}{\text{C}}_2{\text{H}}_5-\text{O}-{\text{C}}_2{\text{H}}_5+{\text{H}}_{2}O$

Diethyl ether