Question

What are the products obtained by heating ethane in:
(a) Excess of air
(b) Absence of air
(c) Air in presence of copper and 120atm pressure
(d) Air with molybdenum oxide at 100 atm pressure.

Answer 1

(a) Ethane reacts in excess of air to give carbon dioxide and water.

\[\ce{2C2H6 + 7O2 -> 4CO2 + 6H2O + Heat}\]

(b) Ethane reacts in absence of air to give carbon black.

\[\ce{C2H6 + O2 -> 2C + 3H2O}\]

(c) Ethane reacts in presence of copper and 120atm pressure to give
ethanol

\[\ce{2C2H6 + O2 ->[Cu][200°C] 2C2H5OH}\]

(d) Ethane reacts with molybdenum oxide at 100 atm pressure to
give ethanal.

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