Question

During dehydration of alcohols to alkenes by heating with concentrated $H _{2} SO _{4}$ the initiation step is :

• A. protonation of alcohol molecule
• B. formation of carbocation
• C. elimination of water
• D. formation of an ester

Answer 1

Answer: (A)

protonation of alcohol molecule

Answer 2

Protonation of $- OH$ is first step. Conversion of poor leaving group (-OH) into good leaving group $(-\overset{+}{O}H_{2})$