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13.1     How do you account for the formation of ethane during chlorination of methane ?

 

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Chlorination of methane is by free radical mechanism and it takes place in three steps-
(i) Initiation-
First, homolytic cleavage of the Cl-Clbond as

(ii) Propagation-
Chlorine free radicals attack methane molecule and generate methyl-free radical as

This methyl radical reacts with other molecules of chlorine (Cl-Cl) and form methyl chloride and liberate chlorine free radicals.

Then chlorine free radical reacts with methyl chloride and this way propagation occurs.


(iii) Termination-
Ethane will be produced as a final product in this step. When two methyl free radicals react with each other ethane will be formed.


 

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manish

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