Write the mechanism of dehydration of ethanol.

Explanation

**Step-by-Step Text Solution for the Mechanism of Dehydration of Ethanol:**

**Step 1: Protonation of Ethanol**
- Ethanol (C2H5OH) is treated with a strong acid, such as sulfuric acid (H2SO4). The oxygen atom in the hydroxyl (-OH) group of ethanol has lone pairs of electrons and can accept a proton (H+).
- The reaction can be represented as:
\[ \text{C}_2\text{H}_5\text{OH} + \text{H}^+ \rightarrow \text{C}_2\text{H}_5\text{OH}_2^+ \]
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