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Newdivide 1701

What is the product of reaction between ethanol and sulphuric acid?

David Miller  Follow

If you use concentrated H2SO4 at fairly high temperatures (around 170 °C), the alcohol is dehydrated to ethene. However, a certain amount is also oxidised to CO2 (with the acid being reduced to SO2), so the gas produced needs to be passed through sodium or potassium hydroxide solution to remove the redox side products. Obviously care should be taken when using conc sulphuric acid and either base in close proximity!

CH3CH2OH → CH2=CH2 + H2O

At lower temperatures (130-140 °C), the dehydration reaction produces diethyl ether (CH3-CH2-O-CH2-CH3).

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Christan Middleton  Follow

Product of the reaction between conc. H₂SO₄ and ethanol depends upon condition. At high temperature of about 443K ,ehanol undergoes complete intramolecular dehydration to form ethylene.

Whereas at 413K ,ethanol undergoes intermolecular dehydration with conc. H₂SO₄ to give diethyl ether.

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