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Question
Give a reason to support that sulphuric acid is a dehydrating agent.
Answer in Brief
Solution
Sulphuric acid is highly soluble in water and has a strong affinity towards the water and hence it can be used as a dehydrating agent.
When dissolved in water it forms mono (H2SO4.H2O) and di (H2SO4.2H2O) hydrates and the reaction is exothermic.
The dehydration property can also be illustrated by its reaction with organic compounds such as sugar, oxalic acid and formic acid.
\[\ce{\underset{\text{(Sucrose)}}{C12H22O11} + H2SO4 -> 12C + H2SO4.11H2O}\]
\[\ce{\underset{\text{(Formic acide)}}{HCOOH} + H2SO4 -> CO + H2SO4.H2O}\]
\[\ce{\underset{\text{(Oxalic acid)}}{(COOH)2} + H2SO4 -> CO + CO2 + H2SO4.H2O}\]
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