Reaction of Propene with Water in the Presence of H2SO4:

When propene (C3H6) is reacted with water (H2O) in the presence of sulfuric acid (H2SO4), it undergoes an acid-catalyzed hydration reaction to produce propan-2-ol (isopropyl alcohol) as the major product.

Explanation:

- The reaction between propene and water is an example of an addition reaction, specifically an addition of water to an alkene. This type of reaction is known as hydration.
- The reaction is catalyzed by sulfuric acid, which acts as both a catalyst and a source of protons (H+ ions). The acid donates a proton to the alkene, initiating the reaction.
- The first step of the reaction involves the addition of a proton (H+) to one of the carbon atoms in the double bond of propene. This forms a carbocation intermediate, which is a positively charged carbon atom.
- The positive charge on the carbocation is stabilized by resonance, as the charge can be delocalized between the adjacent carbon atoms.
- In the next step, water acts as a nucleophile, attacking the positively charged carbon atom and forming a bond with it. This results in the formation of a new carbon-oxygen bond.
- The resulting intermediate is a protonated alcohol, in which the oxygen atom is still bonded to a hydrogen atom.
- In the final step, a water molecule acts as a base, abstracting a proton from the protonated alcohol. This results in the formation of propan-2-ol (isopropyl alcohol), in which the oxygen atom is bonded to two carbon atoms and one hydrogen atom.
- Propan-1-ol (n-propyl alcohol) is not formed as the major product because the addition of water to the propene molecule can occur in two different ways. One way leads to the formation of propan-2-ol, while the other way leads to the formation of propan-1-ol. However, propan-2-ol is more stable due to the presence of a branched alkyl group, which increases the stability of the molecule.
- The reaction does not lead to the formation of 2-methylpropan-1-ol or 2-methylpropan-2-ol, as these products would require the addition of water to a different carbon atom in the propene molecule, resulting in a different product altogether.