Mention the experimental conditions Involved in obtaining ethene from ethanol

Experimental Conditions for Obtaining Ethene from Ethanol:

To obtain ethene from ethanol, a process called dehydration is carried out. Dehydration involves the removal of water (H2O) from a compound, in this case, ethanol (C2H5OH), to produce ethene (C2H4). The experimental conditions required for this process are as follows:

1. Heating:
Ethanol is heated in the presence of a catalyst to facilitate the dehydration process. The heating is usually done under reflux conditions, which means the ethanol is heated in a closed system where the vapor produced is condensed and returned back to the reaction flask. This ensures that the reaction can continue until a satisfactory amount of ethene is obtained.

2. Catalyst:
A catalyst is used to increase the rate of the dehydration reaction. Common catalysts used for this purpose include concentrated sulfuric acid (H2SO4) or concentrated phosphoric acid (H3PO4). These catalysts help in breaking the bonds between the ethanol molecules and promote the formation of ethene.

3. Removal of Water:
As water is formed as a byproduct of the dehydration reaction, it needs to be removed from the reaction mixture to drive the equilibrium towards the formation of more ethene. This can be achieved by either distillation or by using a drying agent like anhydrous calcium chloride (CaCl2). Distillation involves the separation of the components of a liquid mixture based on their boiling points. The water formed during the reaction is collected separately as a distillate.

4. Cooling and Collection:
Once the reaction is complete, the reaction mixture is cooled down to room temperature. The ethene gas produced is collected by displacement of water in an inverted gas jar. Ethene being denser than air, displaces the water and fills up the gas jar.

5. Purification:
The collected ethene gas may contain impurities like unreacted ethanol, water vapor, or other byproducts. To purify the ethene, it can be passed through a drying agent like concentrated sulfuric acid or through a scrubber containing a suitable solvent.

6. Safety Precautions:
When carrying out the experiment, it is important to take necessary safety precautions. These include wearing appropriate protective equipment like gloves and goggles, working in a well-ventilated area, and handling flammable substances with caution.

By following these experimental conditions, ethene can be obtained from ethanol through the process of dehydration.