Identify the dehydration product or products of a) ethanol, b) button-2-ol

Dehydration is a process in which an alcohol loses a molecule of water and leaves behind an alkene. The OH group is removed along with an H from any adjacent carbon atom. To work out the answer, firstly draw the structure of the alcohol in the question, and then work out the product or products.

a) Ethanol's structure is CH3CH2OH. There is only one adjacent carbon atom, and therefore only one possible product: H2C=CH2, also known as ethene. The full reaction is: CH3CH2OH ---> H2C=CH2 + H2O

b) Butan-2-ol's structure is CH3CH(OH)CH2CH3. There are two carbons adjacent to the C(OH) group, so there are two possible products: H2C=CHCH2CH3 and CH3CH=CHCH3. Both have the same molecular formulae (C4H8), but they are not the same molecule; therefore they are structural isomers.

AB
Answered by Andrew B. Chemistry tutor

4706 Views

See similar Chemistry A Level tutors

Related Chemistry A Level answers

All answers ▸

What is Le Chatelier's Principle?


What is the relationship between K and ΔS total?


What is the rate of a reaction and how can you determine it experimentally?


Predict whether the lattice energy of magnesium oxide, MgO, is more or less exothermic than the lattice energy of magnesium sulfide, MgS. Justify your answer in terms of the sizes and the charges of the ions involved.


We're here to help

contact us iconContact ustelephone icon+44 (0) 203 773 6020
Facebook logoInstagram logoLinkedIn logo

MyTutor is part of the IXL family of brands:

© 2025 by IXL Learning