Write the mechanism of acid dehydration of ethanol to yield ethene
The mechanism of acid dehydration of ethanol to yield ethane involves three steps:
Step 1:- Protonation of ethanol to form ethyl oxonium ion.
Step 2:- Formation of carbocation (rate determining step).
Step 3:-Elimination of a proton to form ethane
The acid consumed in step 1 is released in step 3. After the formation of ethane, it is removed to shift the equilibrium in a forward direction.