How do you explain for the generation of ethane through chlorination of methane?
Answers
Explanation:
The process of chlorination of methane works via a free radical chain mechanism. There are steps for this whole reaction.
Step 1: Initiation:
The result begins with the hemolytic cleavage of Cl – Cl bond as: 1.1
Step 2: Propagation:
In the next step, methane molecules are attacked by chlorine free radicals and it collapses the C- H bond to form methyl radicals as : 1.2
Methyl chloride next to the liberation of a chlorine free radical is formed when these methyl radicals react with the other chlorine free radicals.
1.3
1.4
Step 3: Termination:
Formation of ethane is a result of the termination of chain reactions taking place as a result of the consumption of reactants as:1.5
Hence, by this process, ethane is obtained as a by-product of chlorination of methane.