MHT CET202611 April 2026Evening ShiftChemistryAlcohols Phenols and EthersActual
What type of mechanism is followed by dehydration of alcohol to form ether?
Options
- ANucleophilic substitution unimolecular reaction
- BNucleophilic substitution bimolecular reaction
- CElectrophilic substitution reaction
- DElectrophilic addition reaction
Correct answer
B. Nucleophilic substitution bimolecular reaction
Step-by-step solution
The dehydration of alcohols to form ethers is an acid-catalyzed reaction that proceeds via an S_N2 mechanism. Protonation of the alcohol to form an oxonium ion. R-OH + H^+ R-OH₂^+ Nucleophilic attack of an unprotonated alcohol molecule on the protonated alcohol. This is a bimolecular nucleophilic substitution ( S_N2 ) reaction where water acts as the leaving group. R-OH + R-OH₂^+ R-O^+(H)-R + H₂O Loss of a proton to yield the ether. R-O^+(H)-R R-O-R + H^+ Since the rate-determining step involves two molecules (the