How will you convert ethene to ethane?

To convert ethene (C2H4) to ethane (C2H6), you need to add hydrogen (H2) to the double bond of ethene through a chemical reaction called hydrogenation. This reaction is typically carried out in the presence of a catalyst, such as platinum (Pt), palladium (Pd), or nickel (Ni), to enhance the reaction rate. The hydrogenation of ethene to ethane can be represented by the following balanced chemical equation:

C2H4 + H2 -> C2H6

Here's a general overview of the process:

Setup: Prepare the reactants and catalyst. The reactants are ethene (C2H4) and hydrogen gas (H2). The catalyst is commonly supported on a solid surface, such as platinum on alumina.

Reaction: The reaction is conducted in a reactor or vessel at an appropriate temperature and pressure. The double bond in ethene breaks, and the hydrogen atoms are added to each carbon atom, resulting in the formation of ethane.

Catalyst role: The catalyst facilitates the reaction by providing an alternative pathway with lower activation energy, allowing the hydrogenation to occur more rapidly.

Product recovery: After the reaction, the resulting product mixture is separated, and the ethane is obtained from the reaction mixture.

It's important to note that hydrogenation is a well-established industrial process and is used in various applications, including the production of saturated hydrocarbons from unsaturated ones, such as converting ethene to ethane.