When excess ethanol is heated to 145oC in the presence of concentrated H2SO4, the product is
Answer Details
When excess ethanol is heated to 145°C in the presence of concentrated H2SO4, the product formed is diethyl ether. The reaction is known as the Williamson ether synthesis. In this reaction, ethanol acts as a nucleophile and attacks the protonated form of ethanol to form an intermediate compound. The intermediate compound loses a molecule of water to form diethyl ether. The other products mentioned in the options are not formed during this reaction. Ethyne is formed by the dehydration of ethanol in the presence of sulfuric acid, but the reaction conditions mentioned in the question are not suitable for the formation of ethyne. Diethyl sulphate is formed when ethanol is heated with excess concentrated H2SO4 at higher temperatures, while acetone is not formed by this reaction.