Which of the following is used as a dehydrating agents? A) HCl B)HClo4...
Concentrated Sulphuric Acid is used as a drying and Dehydrating agent because it has a strong affinity for water and thus it absorbs water quickly.
Which of the following is used as a dehydrating agents? A) HCl B)HClo4...
Dehydrating agents are substances that remove water or moisture from a substance or environment. In this case, the correct option is D) H2SO4, or sulfuric acid.
Sulfuric acid is a strong dehydrating agent due to its chemical properties. Here is a detailed explanation of why sulfuric acid is used as a dehydrating agent:
1. Acidic nature: Sulfuric acid is a strong acid, meaning it readily donates protons (H+) in solution. This property allows it to react with water molecules, resulting in the removal of water through the process of dehydration. The reaction can be represented as follows:
H2SO4 + H2O → H3O+ + HSO4-
2. Hygroscopic behavior: Sulfuric acid is also highly hygroscopic, which means it has a strong affinity for water molecules. It readily absorbs moisture from the surrounding environment, causing dehydration in the process. This property makes it effective in removing water from substances or environments.
3. High boiling point: Sulfuric acid has a boiling point of around 337 degrees Celsius, which is relatively high compared to other common acids. This high boiling point enables it to remove water at elevated temperatures, making it suitable for dehydrating reactions that require heating.
4. Strong oxidizing agent: Sulfuric acid is a strong oxidizing agent, capable of oxidizing various substances. This property can also contribute to the removal of water during dehydration reactions. For example, in the dehydration of alcohols to form alkenes, sulfuric acid acts as both a dehydrating agent and an oxidizing agent.
Overall, the combination of sulfuric acid's acidic nature, hygroscopic behavior, high boiling point, and oxidizing properties make it an effective dehydrating agent. It can efficiently remove water or moisture from substances or environments, making it useful in various chemical processes and industrial applications.
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