Question

State the method of preparation of ethanol by hydrolysis of ethene.

Answer 1

When concentrated sulphuric acid (conc. H₂SO₄) is added to ethene at a temperature of 80°C and pressure of 30 atm. ethyl hydrogen sulphate is produced. Ethyl hydrogen sulphate on hydrolysis with boiling water gives ethanol.

\[\ce{C2H4 + H2SO4 ->[80^\circ C][30atm] \underset{sulphate}{\underset{Ethyl hydrogen}{C2H5*HSO4}}}\]

\[\ce{\underset{sulphate}{\underset{Ethyl hydrogen}{C2H5*HSO4}} + H2O -> \underset{Ethanol}{C2H5OH} + H2SO4}\]