Elimination of Stereoisomeric Alcohols

Obtain a sample of another alcohol such as 2-methylcyclohexanol, which is typically available as a mixture of cis- and frans-isomers, from your instructor. Perform the acid-catalyzed dehydration of 2-methylcyclohexanol according to the procedure in Part B. Calculate your yield and analyze the products by capillary GLC to identify and to determine the ratio of the three possible alkenes. Consult with your instructor before undertaking any experiments. 

Dilute the residue remaining in the stillpot with water, carefully neutralize it with sodium carbonate, and flush it down the drain with large quantities of water. Dry the potassium carbonate on a tray in the hood and flush it down the drain or place it in a container for nonhazardous solids. Pour the dichloromethane solution from the bromine test for unsaturation in a container for halogenated organic liquids, and put the manganese dioxide from the Baeyer test for unsaturation in a container for heavy metals. 

Why is the boiling point of the parent alcohol higher than that of the product alkene  

Why are the distillates obtained in the initial step of the dehydration reaction dried over anhydrous potassium carbonate  

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Elimination of Alternate Non-Terminal Alkyl Halides, p. 343 Elimination of Stereoisomeric Alcohols, p. 355 NEW Analysis of Bromohexanes, p. 370 NEW Bromination of (Z)-Stilbene, p. 380... 

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