[jena]

Hi, I have a question that states:

Explain why butyl alcohol is soluble in sulfuric acid.

My answer: Butyl alcohol is soluble in sulfuric acid because they can react readily even in the absence of catalyst like sulfuric acid.

Is this answer correct, or should I look further into it

Also I'm a little confused about how to right a Sn1 and Sn2 reaction. Could someone please offer help in that as well.

Thank You

[dexangeles]

Hi, I have a question that states:

Explain why butyl alcohol is soluble in sulfuric acid.

My answer: Butyl alcohol is soluble in sulfuric acid because they can react readily even in the absence of catalyst like sulfuric acid.

Is this answer correct, or should I look further into it

Also I'm a little confused about how to right a Sn1 and Sn2 reaction. Could someone please offer help in that as well.

Thank You

first of all, you can't say in the absence of a catalyst like sulfuric acid because your butyl alcohol is in sulfuric acid  
second, what do you think are the products (if there's any) when you mix the two
third, you have an alcohol and not an alkyl halide  

what do you need to know about SN1 and SN2?

note: butyl alcohol with H₂SO₄ and heat will most probably go E2

[jena]

Hi,

So since its already in the alcohol I can't say that say that it is in the absence of it. As for the product of this reaction I'm sorry but I'm also stumped on that. I don't really know what to substitute with what?

What I need to know about SN1 and SN2 is how to make the reaction? I've looked through my chemistry book and it  has been of no help. Also my teacher for lectures hasn't talked about this particular subject yet, so any information you have about it would be helpful.

Please help

Thank You

[Mitch]

You have an alcohol(-OH) with a strong acid(H+). What do acids like to do?

[dexangeles]

well, just look at what Mitch just said, that should give you the answer to the solubility question

this reaction will give you an Elimination via E2
butyl alcohol + H[sub2][/sub]SO₄ + heat -----> Butene + H₃O

Substitution in alcohols would be better described by
alcohol + hydrogen halide ------> alkyl halide + H₂O

Substitution in alkyl halides is a little more tedious...

[limpet chicken]

Won't H2SO4 dehydrate primary alcohols to form the corresponding ether when heated together?

[Donaldson Tan]

forming ether is dependent on temperature.

[jena]

Hi,

Okay let's see if I understand. Acids like to give protons, in the equation I should show this. The equation should look like this then:

C(CH₃)₃OH + H₂SO₄----> CH₃CH₂CHCH₂ + H₃Oas stated by Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam.

So the reason that butyl alcohol is soluble in sulfuric acid is that the alcohol is a weak base compared to the strong acid, sulfuric acid. I now know that small alcohols are completely soluble in water, and that solubility begins to decrease as the hydrocarbon chain increases. So could I also say that the reason this is possible because like substances will be soluble in each such as polar and polar, which is the case of this reaction.

Is this correct?

Thank You