Final answer:
The hydration of ethene uses an addition reaction with water and an acid catalyst at high temperatures to produce ethanol, a process crucial in the industry for transforming petroleum derivatives into alcohols.
Step-by-step explanation:
The hydration of ethene to produce ethanol is a chemical process that involves the addition reaction of water to the double bond of ethylene. This reaction is typically carried out using a strong acid catalyst at a high temperature, close to 100°C. The process results in the formation of ethanol, and is an important industrial reaction, particularly in generating large quantities of ethanol from petroleum derivatives. Ethylene, also known as ethene, is a raw material derived from the cracking of long chain hydrocarbons from crude oil, and its subsequent hydration is an essential step in producing alcohols like ethanol, which have numerous applications.