Question

On dropping a small piece of sodium in a test tube containing carbon compound X with molecular formula C2H6O , a brisk effervescence is observed and a gas and Y is produced. On bringing a burning splinter at the mouth of the test tube the gas evolved burns with a pop sound. Identify X and Y. Also write the chemical equation for the reaction. Write the name and structure of the product formed, when you heat X with excess conc. sulphuric acid?

Answer 1

Carbon compound X is ethanol (C2H6O), which reacts with sodium to produce sodium ethoxide (Y) and hydrogen gas. Upon heating ethanol with concentrated sulfuric acid, ethylene (C2H4) is formed.

Step-by-step explanation:

When a small piece of sodium is dropped into a test tube containing the carbon compound X with molecular formula C2H6O, and brisk effervescence is observed, the gas evolved is hydrogen, which burns with a pop sound. The carbon compound X can be identified as ethanol (CH3CH2OH), as its reaction with sodium would release hydrogen gas and form the sodium ethoxide (Y).

The balanced chemical equation for this reaction is:

2 CH3CH2OH + 2 Na → 2 CH3CH2ONa + H2↑

When X (ethanol) is heated with excess concentrated sulfuric acid, it undergoes a dehydration reaction to form ethylene (C2H4) as the product. The chemical equation for this reaction is:

CH3CH2OH → H2SO4(conc.) → CH2=CH2 + H2O

The structure of ethylene is:

H2C=CH2

Here, we can clearly see the double bond between the two carbon atoms, which is characteristic of alkenes.