Question

A carbon compound ‘P’ of molecular formula C₂H₆O is found to be neutral when tested with red and blue litmus. A gas that burns with a pop sound is produced when sodium metal reacts with compound ‘P’.

1. Identify the compound ‘P’.    [1]
2. The carbon compound ‘P’ is heated with conc. H₂SO₄ at 443 K to produce compound ‘Q’.    [2]
   1. Write the chemical equation for the reaction.
   2. What is the role of conc. H₂SO₄ in this reaction?
3. What is likely to be observed on heating compound ‘P’ with ethanoic acid with an acid as a catalyst? Write the chemical equation for the reaction.    [2]

Answer 1

i. Compound P is ethanol (C₂H₅OH), because its molecular formula is C₂H₆O and it is neutral in nature. It also reacts with sodium to give H₂ gas with a popping sound.

ii. I. \[\ce{C2H5OH ->[Conc{.} H2SO4][443 K] C2H4 + H2O}\]

Product Q is ethene.

II. Conc. H₂SO₄ acts as a dehydrating agent, removing water from ethanol.

III. On heating ethanol with ethanoic acid (in the presence of an acid catalyst), a fruity smell is observed due to the formation of an ester.

\[\ce{C2H5OH + CH3COOH ->[conc{.} H2SO4] CH3COOC2H5 + H2O}\]

The product formed is ethyl ethanoate (ester).