Alcohols are carbon compounds containing a hydroxyl (OH) group. Alkenes are carbon compounds containing at least 1 carbon-carbon double bond (C=C).Dehydration (removal of H2O) of Alcohol W in the presence of phosphoric acid (H3PO4) produces H2O and a mixture of 4 alkenes (Alkenes 1-4) that each contain only 1 C=C bond:Dehydration of each of 3 other alcohols (Alcohols X, Y, and Z) produces H2O and 2 or more of Alkenes 1-4. Stu- dents studied the dehydration of each of these 4 alcohols, which are all liquids at 25°C.What was the most likely purpose of the sand bath shown in Figure 1 ?

Question

TestUstad · Accepted Answer

To evenly distribute heat to the flask. The sand bath spreads the heat out so that the flask is heated evenly. This reduces the chance of the flask breaking and ensures that there are no hot spots in the reaction mixture which could lead to excessive charring, for example.

TestUstad · Answer

To partially cool the test tube

TestUstad · Answer

To provide sand as a reactant in the dehydration reaction

TestUstad · Answer

To provide sand as a surface onto which the vapours would condense

Related questions