Question

how would you bring about the following conversions and the reaction involved.
Ethanol to ethane

Answer 1

In the given question firstly we have to define exactly what the steps of the reaction are. Now after that we get the number of steps and can give the reactions involved in the process of this conversion. Here the 2 steps are dehydration and addition respectively.

Complete step by step answer:
The given question statement asks about the entire process through which we would be able to get the proper and correct explanation of all the steps involved in the reaction. So we have to explain what exactly are the reactions and the correct answer of the problem.
Step 1:
This step is regarding the Dehydration of ethanol.
So whenever in this step the ethanol is heated in the affecting presence of the concentrated H₂SO₄ , the process of dehydration will take place in order to give the product as ethylene.
The chemical reaction involved in this step is :
${C_2}{H_5}OH\xrightarrow[{excess{\text{ }}acid}]{{concd{\text{ }}{H_2}S{O_4},{{180}^o}C}}{C_2}{H_4} + {H_2}O$
Step 2:
This step is regarding the Hydrogenation of ethylene.
So whenever in this step the ethylene is reacted with hydrogen in the affecting presence of nickel, the process of addition will take place in order to give the product as ethane.
The chemical reaction involved in this step is :
${C_2}{H_4} + {H_2}\xrightarrow{{nickel}}{C_2}{H_6}$
Therefore the reaction would be concluded in 2 steps. The first one would be of dehydration and second one of addition.

Note: Ethanol is naturally produced by the fermentation of sugars by yeasts or via petrochemical processes such as ethylene hydration. It has medical applications as an antiseptic and disinfectant. It is used as a chemical solvent and in the synthesis of organic compounds.