Chlorine and Ethyl Alcohol Reaction

The reaction between chlorine and ethyl alcohol is a substitution reaction that occurs in the presence of a catalyst. The reaction yields different products depending on the reaction conditions, such as the concentration of the reactants, temperature, and pressure.

Chloral Production

The primary product of the reaction between chlorine and ethyl alcohol is chloral (trichloroacetaldehyde). Chloral is an organic compound with the formula CCl3CHO. Chloral is an intermediate in the synthesis of various chemicals such as trichloroethylene, dichloroacetic acid, and chloral hydrate.

Reaction Mechanism

The reaction between chlorine and ethyl alcohol occurs via a substitution reaction mechanism. The reaction proceeds in three stages:

- Formation of chloroethyl alcohol: In the first step, ethyl alcohol reacts with chlorine in the presence of a catalyst, such as sulfuric acid or phosphorous pentoxide, to form chloroethyl alcohol (CH3CH2ClOH).
- Formation of chloral: In the second step, chloroethyl alcohol undergoes further oxidation in the presence of chlorine to form chloral (CCl3CHO).
- Formation of dichloroacetaldehyde: In the third step, chloral reacts with chlorine to form dichloroacetaldehyde (CCl2CHOHCl).

Ethyl Chloride and Ethyl Tetrachloride

Although the primary product of the reaction between chlorine and ethyl alcohol is chloral, it is possible to obtain other products depending on the reaction conditions. For example, if the concentration of chlorine is low, ethyl chloride (C2H5Cl) is the primary product. Similarly, under high chlorine concentration, ethyl tetrachloride (C2H5Cl4) is the primary product.

Conclusion

The reaction between chlorine and ethyl alcohol is a substitution reaction that yields different products depending on the reaction conditions. The primary product of the reaction is chloral, which is an intermediate in the synthesis of various chemicals. The reaction mechanism involves three steps, and the reaction occurs in the presence of a catalyst.