Experiment
only for experienced chemistry teacher! Hot
sulfuric acid is extremely corrosive!
Goggles and gloves are needed!
org05 Production
of ethylene from ethanol
Ethylene
-the gas for the production of polyethylene-
can be made in microscale using ethanol and sulfuric acid.
What
you need: 3 ml methylated spirit
and 2 ml sulfuric acid in a 25 ml injection
bottle, a rubber stopper pierce by a narrow gas delivery tube
with its other end inserted into the tip of a 50-ml syringe full of water.
Experiment
(Photo): Place the
bottle into a small tin can and heat it on an electric hot plate until
bubbles can be seen.
* Close it by the stopper
to collect the gas in the syringe full of water which stands in a small
glass beaker.
Observation:
The gas bubbles into the syringe through the water finally replacing all
the water in the syringe.
Explanation:
Sulfuric acid eliminates water from the ethanol molecules leaving ethen
gas:
CH3-CH2OH(l)
---sulfuric acid---> CH2=CH2(g) + H2O(g)
back.......
go
on............................................................................................................last
modification: 23.10.2001