dilute sulphuric OR concentrated phosphuric?! (1 Viewer)

[Jezzabelle]

Oh help..
i have 2 sources giving me conflicting information on the dehrydration of ethanol to ethylene and the addition of water to ethylene to make ethanol. This is in regards to the catalyst used:

dehydration of ethanol into ethylene.. is the catalyst conc. phosphuric acid or conc. (or is it dilute??) sulphuric acid

AND

addition of water to ethylene for production of ethanol...
dilute sulphric acid catalyst? OR phosphuric acid catalyst???

please help me!!!!

 

[smallcattle]

both will be correct

 

[jumb]

Sulfuric is more commonly known.

edit, If your dehydating, use conc. sulfuric acid. This is because sulfuric is hyrophilic and will abosorb the water, resulting in a shift of the equilibrium.

 

[Jezzabelle]

wow you guys rock, i only just posted this!! thanks sooo soo much. I repped you both

 

[Tommy_Lamp]

This is the busy season so everyone lends a helping hand.
In regards to the question, what they said

 

[jumb]

I feel smart, by answering other people question.

Also, its good getting feedback on my answers and knowledge.

 

[Tommy_Lamp]

Best type of revision is teaching others

 

[xeriphic]

lol that is so true, this guy came to our school and gave us a seminar on how to study, and he said like the best way to learn is to explain what you know to others

 

[Tommy_Lamp]

Thats why study groups work so well.

 

[VVoody]

Unless of course you end up talking and doing nothing....

 

[Tommy_Lamp]

Ah yes, but then that isn't a study group is it, that's a social group

 

[jumb]

Unless of course you end up talking and doing nothing....

Or have an orgy.

Dang thatd be cool.

 

[tina_goes_doo]

Whoa an orgy? Hmm jumb...that's an interesting take on a "study group"

Basically conc. sulfuric acid is dehydrating agent as he has already pointed out. You can see the same thing happens when you add conc H2SO4 to the reaction flask when making an ester as well.

I have never heard of the phosphuric acid thing before. Interesting...

 

[Jezzabelle]

hey i just rang up the advice line.. (you can read all about my adventures in that thread...)

anyways concentrated acid is used for dehyrdration, it doesnt matter whether you say sulphuric or phosphuric.

a weak acid is used for the addition of water, once again doesnt matter sulphuric or phosphuric....

nice how i answer my own q...