Elimination reactions are found throughout our daily life. The dehydration
of alcohols is a particularly common reaction, as sugar molecules,
known as carbohydrates, undergo non-enzymatic E1 and E2 elimination reactions
readily to form a variety of small molecules. Examples of these reactions
include: the caramelization of white sugar (glucose), toasting bread,
frying onions, malting barley (to make malt whiskey or beer), and cooking
many meats (these processes are also simultaneously undergoing an interesting
amine condensation reaction-which we will learn second semestercalled
the Malliard reaction).