Question

Discuss the dehydrating property of conc. sulphuric acid on organic compounds.

Answer 1

Concentrated sulphuric acid removes water elements from organic acids like oxalic acid.

\[\ce{H2C2O4 ->[Conc. H2SO4] CO ^ + CO2 ^ + H2O}\]

The decomposition releases a gaseous mixture of carbon monoxide (CO) and carbon dioxide (CO₂).