Question

How will u convert ethane into butane?

Answer 1

1) Step 1 is the photochemical halogenation of the ethane:

CH3-CH3 + Br2 --------> CH3-CH2-Br (in presence of light) 

2) Step 2 is the wurtz reaction

CH3-CH2-Br + Na/ether --------> CH3CH2-CH2CH3 (butane) 

Answer 2

Ethane can be converted to Butane by the process of Wurtz Reaction. Wurtz reaction is the reaction in which the  form of coupling reaction where two lower alkyl halides are reacted in the presence of a dry ether medium and sodium metal to form a higher alkane.

The conversion of ethane to butane can be carried in the following two ways:

a. Ethane is reacted with a halogen (Bromine) in the presence of light (this is known as photochemical halogenation). This forms ethylene bromide.

b. The ethylene bromide thus formed is treated with metallic sodium and dry ether to produce butane.

$\mathrm{CH}_{3}-\mathrm{CH}_{3}+\mathrm{Cl}_{2} \quad \text { (sunlight) } \rightarrow \mathrm{CH}_{3}-\mathrm{CH}_{2}-\mathrm{Cl}+\mathrm{HCl}$

$2 C H_{3}-C H_{2}-C l+2 N a \text { (anhydrous ether) } \rightarrow C H_{3}-C H_{2}-C H_{2}-C H_{3}+2 N a C l$