Question
How does acetylene react with:
(i) Water in the presence of dilute H2SO4 and HgSO4
(ii) HCN in the presence of barium cyanide?
Solution
(i) The addition of water: Acetylene reacts with water in the presence of dilute sulphuric acid and mercuric sulphate to form an unstable product which undergoes rearrangement to give acetaldehyde.
(ii) The addition of hydrogen cyanide: Acetylene reacts with hydrogen cyanide in the presence of barium cyanide to form vinyl cyanide.

(ii) The addition of hydrogen cyanide: Acetylene reacts with hydrogen cyanide in the presence of barium cyanide to form vinyl cyanide.
