Free Radical Substitution

Question 1

What are the 3 steps of free radical substitution of methane

Answer 1

Initiation- a halogen undergoes homolytic fission under uv light causing it to have 2 halogen free radicals

Propagation - this halogen free radical attacks an alkane therefore attaching to 1 of its electrons leaving it as a free radical

This alkane free radical then attacks a halogen and attaches to one of the halogen atoms leaving the second halogen as a free radical

Termination- when 2 free radicals come into intact with eachother