Question

Explain hydroxylation of ethene.

Short answer

Answer: The reactants involved in the hydroxylation of ethene are ethene (C2H4), potassium permanganate (KMnO4), and water (H2O). The catalyst used in the reaction is potassium permanganate (KMnO4). The main product formed is ethylene glycol (CH2OHCH2OH), and the byproducts formed are manganese dioxide (MnO2) and potassium hydroxide (KOH).

Step-by-step solution

Understand the reactants

In this exercise, ethene (C2H4) undergoes hydroxylation, which means a hydroxyl group (-OH) will be added to the molecule. Ethene is an alkene with a carbon-carbon double bond that can be broken in order to form new bonds with other atoms or groups.

Catalyst used for hydroxylation of ethene

Hydroxylation of ethene usually involves the use of a catalyst to facilitate the reaction. The most common catalyst used is potassium permanganate (KMnO4). KMnO4 is a strong oxidizing agent that can break the carbon-carbon double bond in ethene and create new carbon-oxygen single bonds.

Learn the mechanism of the reaction

The mechanism of hydroxylation of ethene involves the following steps: 1. The ethene molecule approaches the potassium permanganate catalyst (KMnO4). 2. The catalyst KMnO4 causes the carbon-carbon double bond in ethene to break, and one of the carbon atoms in the double bond forms a bond with an oxygen atom from KMnO4. 3. This reaction occurs twice, once for each carbon in the double bond. 4. The final product is formed, with each carbon atom now bonded to an oxygen atom. This molecule is formally called ethylene glycol (C2H4(OH)2), which is an alcohol.

Written chemical reaction

The hydroxylation of ethene can be written as a balanced chemical reaction: C2H4 + KMnO4 + H2O -> CH2OHCH2OH + MnO2 + KOH In this reaction, ethene (C2H4) reacts with potassium permanganate (KMnO4) and water (H2O) to form ethylene glycol (CH2OHCH2OH) as the main product, with manganese dioxide (MnO2) and potassium hydroxide (KOH) as byproducts. By understanding the reactants involved, the catalyst used, and the mechanism of hydroxylation of ethene, you can better comprehend this fundamental organic chemistry concept.