halogenation of alkanes

Question

Chlorination of methane in sunlight follows:

RankGuru · Accepted Answer

The chlorination of alkanes requires energy in the form of UV light or high temperature ($523-673 	ext{ K}$).
- Mechanism: **Free Radical Chain Reaction**.
1. **Initiation**: Homolytic fission of $Cl_2$ to generate $Cl^.$ radicals.
2. **Propagation**: $Cl^.$ reacts with methane to form methyl radical ($CH_3^.$) and $HCl$. Then $CH_3^.$ reacts with $Cl_2$ to form $CH_3Cl$ and regenerate $Cl^.$.
3. **Termination**: Collision of any two radicals stops the chain.
- Since an $H$ atom is substituted by a $Cl$ atom, it is a substitution reaction.

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halogenation of alkanes

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