Alkenes - Hydration (DP IB Chemistry: SL)

• When alkenes are treated with steam at 300 ^oC, a pressure of 60 atmospheres and sulfuric acid (H₂SO₄) or phosphoric acid (H₃PO₄) catalyst, the water is added across the double bond in a reaction known as hydration
• An alkene is converted into an alcohol
• The reaction processes via an intermediate in which H⁺ and HSO₄^-  ions are added across the double bond
• The intermediate is quickly hydrolysed by water, reforming the sulfuric acid

Hydration in Alkenes

• This is a very important industrial reaction for producing large quantities of ethanol, a widely used solvent and fuel
• The process is much faster and higher yielding that producing ethanol by fermentation