The vapours of ethyl alcohol are passed over red hot copper at 573 K to form:

Options

A. Methane
B. Formaldehyde
C. Acetone
D. Acetaldehyde

Explanation

To solve the problem of what is formed when the vapors of ethyl alcohol are passed over red hot copper at 573 K, we can follow these steps:

### Step 1: Identify the Reactant
The reactant in this case is ethyl alcohol, which is chemically represented as C2H5OH or CH3CH2OH.

### Step 2: Understand the Reaction Conditions
The reaction takes place at a high temperature (573 K) and in the presence of red hot copper. Copper acts as a catalyst and a weak oxidizing agent.

### Step 3: Determine the Type of Reaction
When ethyl alcohol is heated in the presence of a weak oxidizing agent like copper, it undergoes oxidation. In this case, the alcohol (ethanol) will be oxidized to form an aldehyde.

### Step 4: Identify the Product
The oxidation of ethanol (C2H5OH) leads to the formation of acetaldehyde (ethanal), which is represented as CH3CHO.

### Step 5: Conclusion
Thus, when the vapors of ethyl alcohol are passed over red hot copper at 573 K, the product formed is acetaldehyde.

### Final Answer
The correct answer is acetaldehyde (option D).

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