Dot points~~ (1 Viewer)

[Shocker_85]

Hi ppl!!!
cud any one plz help me with the following dot points:

In Production of Materials, section two, the first dot point says:

describe the dehydration of ethanol to ethylene and identify the need for a catalyst in this process and the catalyst used.

My teacher just asked us to write equation:

C2H5OH-----> H2O + C2H4 and we have 2 tell the the catalyst and its need.

Im confused b/c the dot point says "describe the dehydration"


plz help.
Thanks...

 

[elizabethy]

hey i think da ans is as follows
ethanol can be converted back into ethene by heating ethanol with conc sulfuric acid at 350 degree celsius.This process is called DEHYDRATION
then write da equation for the process which i think u know
now write da catalyst is conc. sulfuric acid
the need for da catalyst is dat it lowers da activation energy n speeds up the rate of reaction .

this is da complete ans for the dot point.!
also if da word says describe it does not mean dat u have 2 necessarily write a long page of ans!
as long as ur ans is complete u will get full marks

gudluck

 

[kini mini]

elizabethy's answer should be enough, if you want to be safe you should include the equations for the formaton of the activated complex (intermediate compound formed with sulfuric acid).

 

[mannnnndy]

you can also say that conc sulfuric acid is a dehyrating agent which, when used in your equation, favours the production of more water & ethene (you'll learn more about how this works when you do equilibrium in the acids topic)