Question

Under what conditions does ethane get converted to acetaldehyde?

Answer 1

When a mixture of ethane and oxygen is passed through heated molybdenum oxide, the mixture is oxidized to acetaldehyde.

\[\ce{C2H6 + O2 ->[MoO] CH3CHO + H2O}\]

Answer 2

Step 1: Convert ethane to (C₂H₅OH).

C₂H₆ is converted into C₂H₅Cl.

\[\ce{C2H6 + Cl2 -> C2H5Cl + HCl}\]

Step 2: By hydrolysis of ethyl halides.

\[\ce{\underset{[Ethyl chloride]}{C2H5Cl} + NaOH -> \underset{[Ethyl alcohol]}{C2H5OH} + NaCl}\]

Step 3: Vapours of ethyl alcohol are passed over heated [CuO] at 300°C. They are oxidised to acetaldehyde.

\[\ce{C2H5OH + CuO ->[300^\circ C] \underset{[Acetaldehyde]}{Cu + H2O + CH3CHO}}\]