Question

Under what conditions does ethane get converted to ethyl alcohol?

Answer 1

Ethane is mixed with oxygen and is passed through a hot copper tube; it gets oxidized to ethyl alcohol.

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

Answer 2

Step 1: C₂H₆ is converted into C₂H₅Cl.

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

Step 2: By hydrolysis of ethyl halides.

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