The reaction between an alkene and water in the presence of a sulfuric acid catalyst to form an alcohol is known as an acid-catalyzed hydration reaction. The reaction mechanism involves three main steps and proceeds through a carbocation intermediate species.1. Protonation of the alkene: In the first step, the alkene reacts with the sulfuric acid H2SO4 to form a protonated alkene. The alkene acts as a nucleophile and attacks the proton H+ from the sulfuric acid, resulting in the formation of a carbocation intermediate. This step is reversible.2. Nucleophilic attack by water: In the second step, the carbocation intermediate formed in the first step is attacked by a water molecule, which acts as a nucleophile. The oxygen atom in the water molecule donates a pair of electrons to the carbocation, forming a bond with the carbon atom. This results in the formation of an oxonium ion intermediate.3. Deprotonation: In the final step, the oxonium ion intermediate loses a proton H+ to another water molecule or a bisulfate ion HSO4- from the sulfuric acid, resulting in the formation of the alcohol product and regenerating the acid catalyst.Overall, the reaction mechanism involves the formation of a carbocation intermediate and an oxonium ion intermediate, with the sulfuric acid catalyst playing a crucial role in the protonation and deprotonation steps.