Question

Write the formulae of the products formed in the following reaction.

Reaction of concentrated sulphuric acid with ethanol

Answer 1

1. The reaction of concentrated Sulphuric acid with ethanol is an example of a dehydration process because the water molecule is being removed from the ethanol.
2. When ethanol reacts with H₂SO₄ at 160°C-170°C, ethene as a product is obtained.

Balanced chemical reaction:

$$\begin{gathered} {\mathrm{C}}_2{\mathrm{H}}_5\mathrm{OH}\underset{160°\mathrm{C}-170°\mathrm{C}}{\overset{\mathrm{conc}.{\mathrm{H}}_2{\mathrm{SO}}_4}{\to }}{\mathrm{C}}_2{\mathrm{H}}_4+{\mathrm{H}}_2\mathrm{O} \\ Ethanol\mathit{}\mathit{}\mathit{}\mathit{}\mathit{}\mathit{}\mathit{}\mathit{}\mathit{}\mathit{}\mathit{}\mathit{}\mathit{}\mathit{}\mathit{}\mathit{}\mathit{}\mathit{}\mathit{}\mathit{}\mathit{}\mathit{}\mathit{}\mathit{}\mathit{}\mathit{}Ethene\mathit{}\mathit{}\mathit{}\mathit{}\mathit{}\mathit{}\mathit{}Water \end{gathered}$$

Ethene is obtained as a product and its molecular formula is ${\mathrm{C}}_2{\mathrm{H}}_4$.