A mixture of isomeric alkenes is produced when pentan-2-ol is dehydrated in the presence of hot concentrated sulfuric acid. Pent-1-ene is one of the isomers produced. Name and outline a mechanism for the reaction producing pent-1-ene.

EliminationOxygen of the hydroxy group has a lone pair of electrons which bonds to a proton. As a result of this the oxygen molecule has three bond but can only stably maintain two, it is also electron deficient having just bonded to a proton. So the oxygen accepts the bonding pair of electrons in its carbon oxygen bond and thus a water molecule leaves the hydrocarbon. This leaves an electron deficient carbon which obtains an extra electron by forming a double bond with a neighboring carbon atom in the molecule.