2 methyl-2-propanol is treated with 9M H2S04. What is the mystery product?
Don't you think the H2SO4 will dehydrate the alcohol. I would think it would give 2-methylpropene.
To determine the mystery product when 2-methyl-2-propanol is treated with 9M H2SO4, we need to understand the reaction that takes place.
2-methyl-2-propanol is an alcohol, also known as tert-butanol or t-butanol. It is a tertiary alcohol with the molecular formula (CH3)3COH.
When an alcohol is treated with a strong acid like sulfuric acid (H2SO4), it undergoes an acid-catalyzed dehydration reaction. In this reaction, water is eliminated from the alcohol, resulting in the formation of an alkene.
For the specific case of 2-methyl-2-propanol, the reaction can be represented as follows:
(CH3)3COH + H2SO4 → (CH3)2C=CH2 + H2O
In this reaction, tert-butanol loses a water molecule (H2O) to form isobutene or 2-methylpropene [(CH3)2C=CH2] as the mystery product.
So, the mystery product formed when 2-methyl-2-propanol is treated with 9M H2SO4 is isobutene or 2-methylpropene.