Question

1. Why alkyl halides are generally not prepared in
the laboratory by free radical halogenation of alkanes?​

Answer 1

Answer:

The answer is simple because in free radical halogenation we get a mixture of mono-substituted, di-substituted, tri-sunstituted and even tetra-substituted halo-alkanes (alkyl halides).

Explanation:

Refer to the pic (I am attaching) which shows the free radical halogenation of chlorine that gives a variety of products (as we require only one type alkyl halide not all in the form of mixture THUS we does not use this method)

Answer 2

Explanation:

For production of alkyl halides, direct halogenation of alkanes is not suitable because they yield a mixture of different alkyl halides and the reaction is a chain reaction as for example the reaction of methane with chlorine forms various chlorides.