Chapter 3, Problem 3.12A

APPLY 3.12

(a) Diethyl ether (C4H10O), the “ether” used medically as an aesthetic, is prepared commercially by treatment of ethyl alcohol (C2H6O) with an acid. How many grams of diethyl ether would you obtain from 40.0 g of ethyl alcohol if the percent yield of the reaction is 87.0%?

${\text{2C}}_{\text{2}}{\text{H}}_{\text{6}}\text{O}\left(l\right)\stackrel{acid}{\to }{\text{C}}_{\text{4}}{\text{H}}_{\text{10}}\text{O}\left(l\right)+{\mathrm{H}}_{2}O\left(l\right)$ Ethyl alcohol Diethyl ether

(b) How many grams of ethyl alcohol would be needed to produce 100.0 g of diethyl ether if the percent yield of reaction is 87.0%?