JAMB Chemistry 1987 Question 43

Question 43

Carbohydrates, Proteins and Amines

A palm wine seller stoppered a bottle of his palm wine in his stall and after a few hours the bottle exploded. Which of the following equations represents the reaction that occurred?

A.C₆H₁₂O₆ → 2C₂H₅OH + 2CO_2(g) (enzymes)
B.C₂H₅OH → CH₂ = CH_2(g) + H₂O
C.C₂H₅OH + dil H₂SO₄ → C₂H₅OSO₂OH
D.2C₆H₁₂O₆ → C₁₂H₂₂O₁₃ + H₂O.

Show the answer and explanation

Answer: A (C₆H₁₂O₆ → 2C₂H₅OH + 2CO_2(g) (enzymes))

Explanation

Yeast enzymes keep fermenting the sugar in palm wine to ethanol and carbon (IV) oxide. The gas builds up pressure in the closed bottle until it bursts.