Question

Conversion of ethanol to ethene by the action of concentrated sulphuric acid involves ______.

Options

• Dehydration

• Dehydrogenation

• Dehydrohalogenation

• Hydrolysis

Answer 1

Conversion of ethanol to ethene by the action of concentrated sulphuric acid involves dehydration.

Explanation:

The conversion of ethanol to ethene is a dehydration reaction because it eliminates a water molecule (H₂O) from the ethanol structure. Concentrated sulphuric acid acts as a powerful dehydrating agent and catalyst when the mixture is heated to around 170°C (443 K). This elimination process removes a hydrogen atom from one carbon and a hydroxyl group (–OH) from the adjacent carbon, creating the carbon-carbon double bond characteristic of ethene.