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Acetaldehyde

Acetaldehyde

source : PrepChem.com

source : byju’s

Lab preparation of Acetaldehyde :

Acetaldehyde  is prepared in the laboratory  by oxidation of ethyl alcohol with acidified  potassium dichromate.

K2Cr2O7 + 4H2SO4 —–> K2SO4 + Cr2(SO4)3 + 4H2O + 3(O)

[CH3CH2OH + O ——–> CH3CHO + H2O ] x3

Equation as a whole-

CH3CH2OH +K2Cr2O7 + 4H2SO4 ——–> K2SO4 +Cr2(SO4)3 + 3CH3CHO + 7H2O

Method :

A mixture of K2Cr2O7  & H2O is taken in a round bottom flask with a dropping funnel and a water condenser. The condenser kept in freezing mixture and partly filled with ether.

A mixture of C2H5OH and H2SO4 is taken in dropping funnel. The flask is heated on water bath and the mixture from the dropping funnel is added drop by drop. The heating is stopped after the start of reaction. Hot water (30-35 0C) is circulated through the condenser. The vapors of C2H5OH condense and return to the flask while the vapors of CH3CHO pass to the receiver. The distillate obtained contains CH3CHO, C2H5OH, water and ether. CH3CHO is not recovered by fractional distillation.

To recover acetaldehyde the distillate is treated with dry NH3 when the crystallized product  acetaldehyde ammonia is formed. It is filtered and washed with dry ether. The dried crystals are then distilled with dilute H2SO4 when pure acetaldehyde is collected.

Manufacture of Acetaldehyde :

1. By oxidation of C2H5OH :

Ethyl alcohol vapors and limited amount of air are passed over heated Ag- catalyst at 300o C.

2C2H5OH + O2 —–> 2CH3CHO + 2H2O

 

2. By dehydrogenation of Alcohol :

Vapors of C2H5OH are passed over heated Cu at 300o C.

CH3CH2OH    ——–> CH3CHO +H2

3. By hydration of C2H2 :

Acetylene  is passed through 40% H2SO4 and 1%  HgSO4 at 60 0C then acetaldehyde is formed.

Physical properties:

1. It is a colorless volatile liquid. It boils at 21 0C.

2. It has a characteristic pungent smell.

3. It is soluble in H2O, CHCl3, C2H5OH and ether.

Saroj Bhatia: Dr. Saroj Bhatia is an Ph.D in chemistry who has been teaching chemistry for over a decade. Currently she is a respected principal of a renowned college in her hometown. She took this medium for online users. Her proudest achievement is helping people learn chemistry.
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