Name the type of reaction: C2H4 + H2O ---> C2H5OH

Name the type of reaction: C2H4 + H2O ---> C2H5OH

• A. Dehydration
• B. Addition
• C. Oxidation
• D. Substitution

Answer: (B)

Hydration of an alkene is the process of adding water across a carbon–carbon double bond to form an alcohol. In this case, the H from water attaches to one carbon and the OH attaches to the other, turning the C=C into a C–C with an OH group, yielding ethanol. This is an addition reaction because two atoms (H and OH) are added across the double bond. Dehydration would remove water to reform the double bond, oxidation would change the oxidation state rather than simply adding water, and substitution would replace an atom in a saturated molecule rather than adding across a double bond.

Hydration of an alkene is the process of adding water across a carbon–carbon double bond to form an alcohol. In this case, the H from water attaches to one carbon and the OH attaches to the other, turning the C=C into a C–C with an OH group, yielding ethanol. This is an addition reaction because two atoms (H and OH) are added across the double bond. Dehydration would remove water to reform the double bond, oxidation would change the oxidation state rather than simply adding water, and substitution would replace an atom in a saturated molecule rather than adding across a double bond.