Which of the following is formed as an intermediate in the conversion of ethyl alcohol into diethyl ether by heating the former with concentrated `H_(2)SO_(4)`?

Options

A. `C_(2)H_(5)OSO_(3)H`
B. `C_(2)H_(5)overset(+)underset(..)(O)H_(2)`
C. `C_(2)H_(5)overset(+)overset(..)underset(..)underset(|)(O)C_(2)H_(5)`
D. All of these

Answer

D

Explanation

It is also probable that the sulphuric acid first reacts with alcohol to give ethyl hydrogen sulphate and that this then combines with further alcohol to form ether a follows:
`C-(2)H_(5)OH+H_(2)SO_(4)rarrC_(2)H_(5)HSO_(4)+H_(2)O`
`C_(2)H_(5)HSO_(4)+C_(2)H_(5)OHrarrC_(2)H_(5)OC_(2)H_(5)+H_(2)SO_(4)` or `C_(2)H_(5)OSO_(3)H`
This explains how a give amount of acid can be used to convert a much larger quantity of alcohol into ether because theotetically the acid can be used over and over again. Indeed the method is often described as the 'continous etherification process' for this reaction.