Chlorination of alkanes

avatar
Created by
Niamh Mumby

Cards (7)

  • What are the three steps to free radical substitution?
    Initiation
    Propagation
    Termination
  • Describe the initiation stage in free radical substitution
    Radicals are produced using UV light. The bond breaks, producing two radicals
  • Describe the propagation stage in free radical substitution
    A radical reacts with a non-radical so that new radicals are created which go on to produce more non-radicals
    Therefore, it is called a chain reaction
  • Describe the termination stage in free radical substitution
    Two radicals react to form a non-radical molecule and this ends the chain reaction
  • What is the initiation stage for producing chloromethane?
    Cl2 -> 2Cl•
  • What are the propagation stages for producing chloromethane?
    Cl• + CH4 -> •CH3 + HCl
    •CH3 + Cl2 -> CH3Cl + Cl•
  • What is the termination stage for producing chloromethane?
    •CH3 + Cl• -> CH3Cl