The acid-catalyzed dehydration of ethanol can yield either an alkene or an ether depending on the re — Alcohols Phenols and Ethers Chemistry Question

💡 Solution & Explanation

The dehydration of primary alcohols to form ethers is a nucleophilic bimolecular ($S_N2$) substitution where one alcohol molecule attacks another protonated alcohol molecule. This process is favored at a lower temperature of $413 \text{ K}$. At higher temperatures (e.g., $443 \text{ K}$), intramolecular elimination ($E2$) dominates, yielding ethene.