Mechanism of Monochlorination of Methane - Propagation (2)

Question 1

What first happens in this step?

Answer 1

A methyl free radical attacks a chlorine molecule to form chloromethane and a chlorine atom

Question 2

What is formed when a methyl free radical attacks a chlorine molecule?

Answer 2

Chloromethane and a chlorine atom are formed

Question 3

What reaction forms chloromethane and a chlorine atom?

Answer 3

When a methyl free radical attacks a chlorine molecule

Question 4

What can the newly formed chlorine atom then do?

Answer 4

It can react with another molecule of methane (like in step 2) which sets up a chain reaction

Question 5

What is a chain reaction?

Answer 5

A chain reaction is a reaction that continues on and on because a product from one step of the reaction is a reactant for another step of the reaction

Question 6

How is the chain reaction set up?

3

Answer 6

In this step the methyl free radical formed in step two attacks a chlorine molecule to form a chlorine atom

This chlorine atom can attack a methane molecule to form a methyl free radical (step 2)

This sets up the chain reaction

Question 7

Why are stages 2 and 3 referred to as the propagation stage?

Answer 7

Because they keep the chain reaction in operation to generate the chloromethane