The dehydration reaction of ethanol is catalyzed with sulfuric acid with heating

Question

The dehydration reaction of ethanol is catalyzed with sulfuric acid with heating, to produce ethene and water. However, at lower temperature, the reaction of ethanol with catalytic sulfuric acid produces primarily diethyl ether and water. For the carbon-oxygen bond-forming step in the acid-catalyzed production of diethyl ether from ethanol, what is the mechanism?

Bimolecular elimination (E2)

Bimolecular nucleophilic substitution (SN2)

Unimolecular elimination (E1)

Unimolecular nucleophilic substitution (SN1)

As described in the previous problem, the reaction of ethanol with sulfuric acid produces ethene and water upon heating, whereas at lower temperature, the formation of diethyl ether and water is favored. Which statement below is true?

a) Higher temperature favors elimination because of the greater ?So value, as an elimination reaction forms lower energy products than a substitution reaction.

Higher temperature favors elimination because of the greater ?So value, as an elimination reaction forms more product molecules than a substitution reaction.

Higher temperature favors elimination because of the lower ?So value, as an elimination reaction forms lower energy products than a substitution reaction.

Higher temperature favors elimination because of the lower ?So value, as an elimination reaction forms more product molecules than a substitution reaction.

Bimolecular elimination (E2)

Bimolecular nucleophilic substitution (SN2)

Unimolecular elimination (E1)

Unimolecular nucleophilic substitution (SN1)

Explanation / Answer

1. The production of ether from ethanol undergoes SN2 mechanism.

2. The correct statement is option (c).

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