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Alkanes MCQ HELP!

Hi,

Here's an MCQ from a past paper about ethane reaction with bromine:

Which molecule is not produced when ethane reacts with bromine in the
presence of ultraviolet light?

A C2H4Br2
B HBr
C H2
D C4H10


My understanding is that when bromine reacts with ethane:

C2H6 + Br2 --> C2H5Br + HBr

C2H5Br and HBr ARE formed so the cannot be A or B. Now I am stuck between answers C and D as from my understanding, both of those are not formed given the equation above.

Thanks
Reply 1
Original post by Dan_Malik
Hi,

Here's an MCQ from a past paper about ethane reaction with bromine:

Which molecule is not produced when ethane reacts with bromine in the
presence of ultraviolet light?

A C2H4Br2
B HBr
C H2
D C4H10


My understanding is that when bromine reacts with ethane:

C2H6 + Br2 --> C2H5Br + HBr

C2H5Br and HBr ARE formed so the cannot be A or B. Now I am stuck between answers C and D as from my understanding, both of those are not formed given the equation above.

Thanks

What do you know about free radical substitution?
https://www.chemguide.co.uk/mechanisms/freerad/ch4andbr2.html
Reply 2
Original post by Dan_Malik
Hi,

Here's an MCQ from a past paper about ethane reaction with bromine:

Which molecule is not produced when ethane reacts with bromine in the
presence of ultraviolet light?

A C2H4Br2
B HBr
C H2
D C4H10


My understanding is that when bromine reacts with ethane:

C2H6 + Br2 --> C2H5Br + HBr

C2H5Br and HBr ARE formed so the cannot be A or B. Now I am stuck between answers C and D as from my understanding, both of those are not formed given the equation above.

Thanks

the answer is c because two c2h5 can terminate to create c4h10
Reply 3
Original post by Pakisaurus
the answer is c because two c2h5 can terminate to create c4h10

Where does the C2H5 come from? There is a C2H5Br made
Reply 4
Original post by bl0bf1sh
What do you know about free radical substitution?
https://www.chemguide.co.uk/mechanisms/freerad/ch4andbr2.html

Have learnt about free radical sub. but i don't know how C4H10 would be produced
Reply 5
Original post by Dan_Malik
Have learnt about free radical sub. but i don't know how C4H10 would be produced

Have a think about the chain termination step.
There are a load of •CH2CH3 and •Br free radicals what happens when two •CH2CH3 radicals come together?

(ethane is CH3CH3; if you turn it into a free radical you get •CH2CH3)
(edited 2 months ago)

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