Question

Ethyl alcohol when treated with conc. H₂SO₄ may give 

(a) Only diethyl sulphate 

(b) Only diethyl ether 

(c) Only ethylene 

(d) All the three

Answer 1

The correct answer is: (d) All the three.

When ethyl alcohol (ethanol, C₂H₅OH) is treated with concentrated sulfuric acid (H₂SO₄), it can undergo different reactions depending on the conditions and reactants present.

Here's what can happen:

1. Formation of diethyl sulfate (diethyl sulphate, (C₂H₅)₂SO₄): In the presence of concentrated sulfuric acid, ethanol can react to form diethyl sulfate. This reaction is represented as follows:
   
   C2H5OH + H2SO4 ⟶ (C2H5)2SO4 + H2O

2. Formation of diethyl ether (ethoxyethane, C₂H₅OC₂H₅): Under certain conditions, especially at elevated temperatures, ethanol can undergo dehydration in the presence of concentrated sulfuric acid to form diethyl ether. The reaction is as follows:

   2C₂H₅OH ⟶ C₂H₅OC₂H₅ + H₂O

3. Formation of ethylene (ethene, C₂H₄): If the reaction conditions are more rigorous, such as higher temperatures and excess concentrated sulfuric acid, ethanol can undergo further dehydration to form ethylene. The reaction is represented as:

   C₂H₅OH ⟶ C₂H₄ + H₂O

So, depending on the specific conditions and reactants, all three products (diethyl sulfate, diethyl ether, and ethylene) can be formed from ethanol when treated with concentrated sulfuric acid.

Answer 2

(d) All the three