Water and ethylene are combined at high temperature and pressures in the presence of sulfuric acid to produce ethanol according to the following reaction: CH₂=CH₂(g) + H₂O(g) $\rarr$ CH₃CH₂OH(g)
What is the hybridization of the bolded carbon atoms in the reactants and products, respectively

Question

Water and ethylene are combined at high temperature and pressures in the presence of sulfuric acid to produce ethanol according to the following reaction: CH₂=CH₂(g) + H₂O(g)

\rarr

CH₃CH₂OH(g)
What is the hybridization of the bolded carbon atoms in the reactants and products, respectively

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

In the reactants, the carbon atoms in ethylene have a hybridization of sp2 because they are each bonded to three other atoms (two hydrogen and one carbon). In water, the oxygen atom has a hybridization of sp3 because it is bonded to two hydrogen atoms and two lone pairs of electrons. In the products, the carbon atom in ethanol has a hybridization of sp3 because it is bonded to four other atoms (one hydrogen, one carbon, one oxygen, and one lone pair of electrons). The oxygen atom in the product H2SO4 has a hybridization of sp3 because it is bonded to one sulfur atom and three lone pairs of electrons. The bolded carbon atoms in the reactants and products have the same hybridization, which is sp2, because they are each bonded to three other atoms. Therefore, the correct answer is B.

Water and Ethylene Are Combined at High Temperature and Pressures →\rarr→

Water and Ethylene Are Combined at High Temperature and Pressures $\rarr$