question_answer 67)

    Ethene is formed when ethanol at 443 K is heated with excess of concentrated sulphuric acid. What is the role of sulphuric acid in this reaction? Write the balanced chemical equation of this reaction.

Answer:

                  When ethanol is heated with excess of concentrated sulphuric acid at 443 K, it gets dehydrated to form ethene. In this reaction, concentrated sulphuric acid acts as a dehydrating agent which removes water molecule from the ethanol molecule.