Ethanol (CH3CH2OH), the intoxicant in alcoholic beverages, is also used to make other organic compounds. In concentrated sulfuric acid, ethanol forms diethyl ether and water:
2CH3CH2OH(l) → CH3CH2OCH2CH3(l) + H2O(g)
In a side reaction, some ethanol forms ethylene and water:
CH3CH2OH(l) → CH2═CH2(g) + H2O(g)
(a) If 54.0 g of ethanol yields 28.8 g of diethyl ether, what is the percent yield of diethyl ether?
%
(b) During the process, 45.0% of the ethanol that did not produce diethyl ether reacts by the side reaction. What mass of ethylene is produced?