Production of Materials > 3. Renewable Ethanol >
Describe the addition of water to ethylene resulting in the production of ethanol and identify the need for a catalyst in this process and the catalyst used
- Hydration: The process of adding water molecules, or the equivalent of water molecules, to a substance.
- Ethylene can be hydrated to produce ethanol when heated with a dilute sulfuric acid (H2SO4) catalyst:
- The hydration of ethene is an example of an addition reaction.