Answer to Question #219239 in Organic Chemistry for Lianne

Question

Explain the reaction

3-pentanol reacting with H2SO4 under heat giving 3-pentene(75%). E2reactions and Zaitsev's rule

Answer 1

In the presence of a strong acid, the dehydration of an alcohol can take place. This is an elimination reaction where a water molecule is eliminated from the elements in the compound. Heat promotes elimination reaction over substitution reaction as there is more energy available to overcome the activation energy for the elimination reaction. Here -OH and -H are eliminated.