Mechanism of Monochlorination of Methane - Initiation Flashcards
What is the reaction that occurs during the monochlorination of methane?
It is the reaction between methane and chlorine to form chloromethane
What first happens during the initiation stage?
A chlorine molecule is broken down into two atoms in the presence of ultraviolet light
What is the chlorine molecule broken down into in the presence of UV light?
It is broken down into two atoms
A chlorine molecule is broken down into two atoms in the presence of what?
UV light
What is broken down into two atoms in the presence of UV light?
A chlorine molecule
What does the UV light provide for the chlorine molecule?
It provides the energy to break the bond in the chlorine molecule and convert the chlorine molecule into two chlorine free radicals
What breaks the bond in the chlorine molecule?
Energy provided by UV light
What is the chlorine molecule converted into after the bond in the chlorine molecule has been broken by UV light?
It is converted into two chlorine free radicals
Describe how the chlorine molecule bond breaks.
It breaks in such a way that each atom joined by the bond retains one of the two electrons from the bond
What is the breaking of a bond in which each atom joined to the bond retains one of the two atoms called?
(2)
Homolysis or
Homolytic fission
What is homolysis or homolytic fission?
It is the breaking of a bond in such a way that each atom joined to the bond retains one of the two electrons from the bond
What type of reaction is the reaction between methane and chlorine to form chloromethane an example of?
It is an example of a photochemical reaction
What is a photochemical reaction?
A reaction that is brought about by light
List the steps that occur during the initiation stage.
3
Chlorine molecule broken down into two chlorine atoms -UV light
UV light- energy- break bond- two chlorine free radicals
Homolysis/homolytic fission
