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Which one is more expensive Ethene or Chlorothane?

Making ethylbenzene from benzene uses chloroethane or ethene, why is ethene more prefered?

I first thought it was production of HCl makes Chloroethane less prefered but then I thought it was cost.... can someone help me I'm confused :s-smilie:

Reply 1

Kyri

I'm not sure if this is the answer they're looking for, but a quick google search tells me that the commercial production of chloroethane is by the reaction of ethene with HCl over an aluminium catalyst. This is obviously an extra synthetic step over simply reacting ethene with benzene and hence will cost more money.