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Question

Which reagent can be used to convert ethanol to diethyl ether?

A
Al2O3 at 2500C
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B
conc. H2SO4 at 1700C
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C
conc. H2SO4 at 13001400C
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D
Al2O3 at 3500C
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Solution

The correct option is B conc. H2SO4 at 13001400C
In this case, the ethanol is treated by concentrated sulphuric acid (H2SO4) to form diethyl ether. The acid in an aqueous medium produces hydronium H3O+ ion.

H+ protonate the oxygen atom of ethanol and the ethanol molecule gets a positively charged oxygen. After that, the oxygen atom of unprotonated ethanol abstracts a H2O molecule from ethanol and produces diethyl ether.

CH3CH2OH+H2SO4140oC−−CH3CH2OH+2+H2O

CH3CH2OH+2+CH3CH2OHCH3CH2OCH2CH3+H2O+H+

So, the correct option is C

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