(a) What happens when ethanol reacts with ethanoic acid in the presence of a little of concentrated sulphuric acid? Write equation of the reaction involved.
(b) What happens when ethanol is heated with concentrated sulphuric acid at 170°C? Write the equation of the reaction which takes place.


(a) When ethanol reacts with ethanoic acid in the presence of a little concentrated sulphuric acid, a sweet-smelling ester called ethyl ethanoate is formed.
The equation for the reaction is given below:
$CH_3COOH + C_2H_5OH\xrightarrow{conc.H_2SO_4} CH_3COOC_2H_5 + H_2O$

(b) When ethanol is heated with concentrated sulphuric acid at 170C, it gets dehydrated to form ethene.
The equation for the reaction is given below:
$CH_3-CH_2OH \xrightarrow[Dehydration]{conc.H_2SO_4; 170^oC} CH_2=CH_2 + H_2O$

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Updated on: 10-Oct-2022

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