Laboratory Preparation of Ethene and Its Uses

Laboratory Preparation of ethene/ethylene, its principle, procedure, and uses in organic chemistry have been discussed here:

Preparation of Ethene

Some of the important methods of preparation of alkenes in the laboratory are discussed below:

From alkyl halides

When alkyl halides are treated with alcoholic KOH, a HX (hydrogen halide) is removed, resulting in the formation of alkenes. This is a dehydrohalogenation reaction.

Here’s one of the examples of the preparation of ethene from ethyl bromide:

preparation of ethene from ethyl bromide

From dihalogen derivatives

Dihalogen derivatives such as vicinal dihalides can be converted into alkenes by heating with zinc dust in ethanol.

preparation of ethylene

From alcohol

Alcohols are dehydrated when heated in concentrated sulphuric acid, yielding alkenes.

dehydration of alcohol

From partial hydrogenation of alkyne

On passing hydrogen over alkynes in the presence of a mixture of palladium and Barium sulphate (BaSO4) at around 200oC, alkene can be obtained.

partial hydrogenation of alkyne

Laboratory preparation of Ethene

Following method is one of the major laboratory methods of manufacturing ethene in the laboratory.

Principle involved in laboratory preparation of ethene

Ethene/Ethylene gas can be prepared in the laboratory by heating ethyl alcohol with sulphuric acid at about 160-170oC.

preparation of ethene

The mechanism of the above dehydration reaction takes place as:

Step 1: Protonation of alcohol

mechanism of dehydration reaction

Step 2: Formation of carbocation; loss of water molecule

dehydration reaction mechanism

Step 3: Formation of alkene via the loss of a proton from generated carbocation

ethene formation mechanism

Procedure for the preparation of ethene

A round bottom flask fitted with a dropping funnel and a delivery tube is filled with a 1:2 mixture of ethyl alcohol and concentrated sulphuric acid. A small amount of aluminum sulphate and sand are also added to facilitate dehydration and prevent frothing. Now, the delivery tube’s free end is inserted into a wash bottle containing sodium hydroxide solution, and the wash bottle’s exit end is fitted into the beehive shelf, which is set in a water-filled trough.

Ethylene gas is produced when the flask is heated at 160-170oC. The impurities like CO2 and SOare present in the ethylene produced and are removed using  NaOH solution.  Pure ethylene gas can be collected by downward displacement of water.

laboratory preparation of ethene gas

Lab Preparation of ethene video

Uses of ethene

  • For the artificial ripening of fruits
  • Used as an anesthetic in hospitals
  • For the manufacture of glycol, ethanol, ethyl halide, etc.
  • For the manufacture of polyethylene
  • Used as a solvent in cosmetics, pharmaceutics, and so on.

References

  • Morrison, R. T., & Boyd, R. N., Organic chemistry, Allyn and Bacon, Inc. 1987.
  • March, J., Advanced Organic Chemistry, Wiley Eastern Limited, 1986.
  • Bahl, B.S., A., Advanced Organic Chemistry, S. Chand and Company Ltd, New Delhi, 1992.
  • Finar, I. L., Organic Chemistry, Vol. I and Vol. II, Prentice-Hall, London, 1995.

Share this to:

You may also like to read:

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *