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Chemistry Forums for Students => High School Chemistry Forum => Topic started by: nata_li on January 02, 2007, 01:07:24 PM

Title: About Catalytic Hydration
Post by: nata_li on January 02, 2007, 01:07:24 PM
My book does not mention anything about catalytic hydration, but I see it several times on my supplementary exercise.

Its solution says ethene can be turned into ethanol by catalytic hydration. Can anyone help by telling me what is the catalyst required? I only know something about fermentation.
Title: Re: About Catalytic Hydration
Post by: english on January 02, 2007, 01:33:48 PM
A strong acid, usually sulfuric acid, H2SO4.

"Catalytic hydration" is just a fancy way of saying that ethene is reacting with water, with an acid catalyst.

The acid converts H2O to H3O+:  H2SO4 + H2O <----> H3O+ + HSO4-.  This is what actually reacts with ethene.  The hydrogen bonds in water are too strong to break without the catalyst.

Protonating water increases its acidity, thereby making it more reactive.