During the dehydration of alcohols to alkenes by heating with conc. $\mathrm{H}_2 \mathrm{SO}_4$, the…
During the dehydration of alcohols to alkenes by heating with conc. $\mathrm{H}_2 \mathrm{SO}_4$, the initiating step is
elimination of water
protonation of an alcohol molecule
formation of an ester
formation of carbocation.
Solution
The mechanism of dehydration of alcohol involves the following steps-
1. Formation of protonated alcohol
2. Formation of carbocation
3. Formation of ethene by elimination of a proton.