Free radical substitution

Question 0

What does free radical substitution produce?

Answer 0

Haloalkanes from hydrocarbons and halides.

Question 1

Define mechanism.

Answer 1

A mechanism shows the movement of electrons in a reaction.

Question 2

What is homolytic fission?

Answer 2

A process which creates 2 identical uncharged free radicals from a molecule.

Question 3

Define free radical.

Answer 3

A free radical is an exceptionally reactive species containing an unpaired electron.

Question 4

Give the 3 steps to form haloalkanes using free radical substitution.

Answer 4

1. Initiation
2. Propagation
3. Termination

Question 5

What are the conditions required to perform an initiation reaction?

Answer 5

UV light

Question 6

Give the reaction in the initiation phase involving chlorine.

Answer 6

Cl2 → 2Cl⋅

Question 7

Why can free radicals be created high in the atmosphere?

Answer 7

High up in the atmosphere, there is a lot of UV light which can start the initiation stage.

Question 8

Give the 2 reactions in the propagation stage for making chloromethane.

Answer 8

Cl⋅ + CH4 → ⋅CH3 + HCl

⋅CH3 + Cl2 → CH3Cl + ⋅Cl

Question 9

Give the 2 possible reactions in the termination stage for chloromethane.

Answer 9

⋅CH3 + ⋅Cl → CH3Cl

⋅CH3 + ⋅CH3 → C2H6