Question

Which one of the following reagents will reduce diethyl ether to ethane and ethanol?

• A. Na/liquid $\text{N}{{\text{H}}_{\text{3}}}$
• B. Cold HI
• C. ${{H}_{2}}S{{O}_{4}}/$ high pressure
• D. $A{{l}_{2}}{{O}_{3}}$ heat

Answer 1

Answer: (A)

Na/liquid $\text{N}{{\text{H}}_{\text{3}}}$

Answer 2

When diethyl ether is reduced with reducing agent like $\text{Na/liq}\text{.N}{{\text{H}}_{\text{3}}}\text{,}$ the products obtained are ethane and ethanol. ${{C}_{2}}{{H}_{5}}-H\xrightarrow{Na.liN{{H}_{3}}}$ $\underset{Ethane}{\mathop{{{C}_{2}}{{H}_{6}}}}\,+\underset{Ethanol}{\mathop{{{C}_{2}}{{H}_{5}}OH}}\,$