Question

In the dehydration of cyclohexanol what step was most important in maximizing product formation

Answer 1

In the dehydration of cyclohexanol, the most important step for maximizing product formation is the step two of the reaction, which is the rate determining step of the reaction.

Answer 2

Dehydration is an elimination reaction of an alcohol: The elimination reaction involves the loss of an OH from one carbon and an H from an adjacent carbon. Overall, this amounts to the elimination of a molecule of water, resulting in a pi-bond formation of an alkene or alkyne. The loss of water from a molecule is called dehydration. In many cases alcohol dehydration require an acid catalyst and heat. Phosphoric acid (H3PO4) and sulfuric acid (H2SO4) are the most commonly used acid catalysts. The most important steps that maximize the product formation is heating of Cyclohexanol and the Phosphoric Acid