Question

In a familiar classroom demonstration, concentrated H₂SO₄ is added to a beaker containing sucrose C₁₂H₂₂O₁₁, to produce a column of carbon. In this reaction, the H₂SO₄ is acting primarily as a :

a. complexing agent
b. dehydrating agent
c. precipitating agent

Answer 1

In the chemical reaction between concentrated sulfuric acid and sucrose, the sulfuric acid acts as a dehydrating agent, removing water from the sucrose and resulting in the formation of a column of carbon.

Step-by-step explanation:

In the described classroom demonstration, when concentrated H₂SO₄ (sulfuric acid) is added to sucrose C₁₂H₂₂O₁₁, it acts primarily as a dehydrating agent. Concentrated sulfuric acid possesses a very powerful dehydrating property, which means it effectively removes water (H₂O) molecules from compounds, like sugar.

The removal of water molecules from the sucrose leads to the formation of a carbon column, which is a dramatic illustration of this property. The sulfuric acid causes dehydration rather than acting as a complexing agent or a precipitating agent.