Question

(a) What are products obtained when methane reacts with chlorine in
diffused sunlight?

(b) Write the equation when methane reacts with chlorine in diffused sunlight.

(c) Name and define the type of above reaction.

Answer 1

(a) The products obtained when methane reacts with chlorine in diffused sunlight are Chloromethane, Dichloromethane, Trichloromethane and Tetrachloromethane.

(b)

\[\ce{CH4 + CI2 ->[UV light][or Δ] CH3Ci + HCI}\]

\[\ce{CH3CI + CI2 -> CH2CI2 + HCI}\]

\[\ce{CH2CI2 + CI2 -. CHCi3 + HCI}\]

\[\ce{CHCI3 + Ci2 -> CCI4 + HCI}\]

(c) The above reaction is substitution reaction. Here the substitution of
alkanes with chlorine takes place hence it is called chlorination.

The reactions in which the hydrogen of the alkane molecule is replaced by another atom or group of atoms resulting in the formation of the derivative of that hydrocarbon are called substitution reactions.

Substitution by halogen atom is called halogenations.