Ochem question for you guys

[emttim]

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So it's late and I just want to be done with this homework packet so here's my prob.

CH3CH2OH ----> -----> Ethane

So there's an intermediate reaction, starting with ethanol, which is a first degree alcohol so I don't think redox is involved since it'd evolve to an aldehyde and then a carboxylic acid, which obviously isn't the product since it's an alkane.

Reverse engineering the problem, I can obviously make an alkane from an alkene, and an alkene can undergo a hydration reaction to become an alcohol. I'd assume an alcohol can have HOH stripped from it in turn to create an alkene which can then be hydrogenated with H2 to create an alkane. So I'm guessing the answer is:

Pt, Ni, or Pd (as a metal catalyst for the hydration reaction in the middle)
CH3CH2OH - HOH -----> CH3=CH2 + H2 --------------> Ethane



What do you guys think?

 

[brsboarder]

that this isn't really a forum about Homework

 

[jochi1543]

That works. Just protonate the alcohol with something acidic so that H2O+ is formed, which then leaves.

 

[emttim]

that this isn't really a forum about Homework

Thanks, your contributions to humanity shall be etched into the granite stone on your statue when it's erected. Oh, and you don't need to capitalize homework in the middle of a sentence...just FYI.

That works. Just protonate the alcohol with something acidic so that H2O+ is formed, which then leaves.

You mean H3O+? So just use H+ as a catalyst for the alcohol to lose an HOH and note that there needed to be an acid for that reaction?

 

[brsboarder]

I guess my hand slipped on the "h", but I was just being honest. And, yes, my work will be etched into this world, however, I would never want something as permanent and destructive to this world as a statue to remain in my honor. Memory is good enough for me, perhaps an article, or an wikipedia site would be good too, but I'll be modest and stick with a memory for now

 

[Phoenix.]

Closing this thread as it is not the proper place to post homework questions.