What is the primary organic product formed when ethanol is heated with excess concentrated sulfuric acid at 443 Kelvin?

💡 Solution & Explanation

Heating ethanol with concentrated sulfuric acid at 443 Kelvin promotes intramolecular dehydration where a water molecule is eliminated from a single ethanol molecule to yield ethene gas. Lower temperatures around 413 Kelvin favor diethyl ether formation via intermolecular dehydration. Oxidation requires oxidizing agents like potassium permanganate or dichromate. Ethyl sulfate forms as an intermediate species at lower temperatures before decomposing into alkene and acid. Dehydration reactions utilize sulfuric acid as a potent dehydrating catalyst.