3.3.2.4 Chlorination of alkanes

Question 1

What happens in a reaction between an alkane and a halogen?

Answer 1

They burn and react with halogens to form carbon dioxide and water or carbon monoxide and carbon if there is not a plentiful supply of oxygen
The reaction is highly exothermic which makes them good fuels

Question 2

What are the stages of forming halogenoalkanes from alkanes? (no explanation)

Answer 2

Initiation, propagation, termination

Question 3

What are the reactions, seperated into stages, of the formation of chloromethane?

Answer 3

X = halogen, RCH3 = alkane
Initiation:
Cl2 = 2Cl•
Propogation:
Cl• + CH4 = HCl + •CH3
•CH3 + Cl2 = CH3Cl + Cl•
Termination:
Cl• + Cl• = Cl2
•CH3 + •CH3 = C2H6
Cl• + •CH3 = CH3Cl

Question 4

What are the additional products of the chain reaction of forming halogenoalkanes?

Answer 4

CH3Cl + Cl• = •CH2Cl + HCl

•CH2Cl + Cl2 = CH2Cl2 + Cl•