Question

Give chemical equations of the following conversions:
A.Diethyl ether from ethanol
B.Ethanol from diethyl ether
C.Ethyl acetate from ethanol
D.Ethanol from glucose

Answer 1

Hint: Chemical compounds are classified based on the functional group attached. Ethanol is an alcohol with the presence of hydroxyl group and can be converted into ether by treating with sulphuric acid. When ether undergoes hydrolysis forms alcohols. Esterification is the process of making esters.

Complete answer:
A.Ethanol is an alcohol with the molecular formula of \[{C_2}{H_5}OH\] it can be converted into diethyl ether by treating it with sulphuric acid. Two molecules of ethanol were taken. It takes place in two steps.
\[{C_2}{H_5}OH + {H_2}S{O_4} \to {C_2}{H_5}HS{O_4} + {H_2}O\]
The second step is
\[{C_2}{H_5}OH + {C_2}{H_5}HS{O_4} \to {C_2}{H_5}O{C_2}{H_5} + {H_2}S{O_4}\]
B.Diethyl ether is an ether compound with the molecular formula of \[{C_2}{H_5}O{C_2}{H_5}\] it can be converted into ethanol as follows:
\[{C_2}{H_5}O{C_2}{H_5} + {H_2}O\xrightarrow{{{H_2}S{O_4}}}2{C_2}{H_5}OH\]
C.Ethyl acetate is an ester and can be prepared by the method of esterification. One molecule of carboxylic acid and one molecule of alcohol were mixed in the presence of sulphuric acid to give an ester.
\[{C_2}{H_5}OH + C{H_3}COOH\xrightarrow{{{H_2}S{O_4}}}C{H_3}COO{C_2}{H_5} + {H_2}O\]
D.Glucose is a carbohydrate with the molecular formula of \[{C_6}{H_{12}}{O_6}\] , it can be converted into ethanol by the action of an enzyme like zymase. The decarboxylation will be done in this process. The process is known as fermentation.
\[{C_6}{H_{12}}{O_6}\xrightarrow[{Fermentation}]{{Zymase}}2{C_2}{H_5}OH + 2C{O_2}\]

Note:
Ethers and alcohols are functional isomers which mean they differ in the functional group only, but there is no difference in molecular formula. Thus, to convert ethers to alcohols or alcohols to ethers the reagents added were present in catalytic amounts only but not in stoichiometric amounts.