Question

Conversion of \[{\text{C}}{{\text{H}}_{\text{4}}}\]to \[{\text{C}}{{\text{H}}_{\text{3}}}{\text{Cl}}\]is an example of which of the following reaction.
A) Electrophilic substitution
B) Free radical addition
C) Nucleophilic substitution
D) Free radical substitution

Answer 1

Hint: We have to remember that in organic chemistry, hydrocarbons are an important topic. The hydrocarbons are majorly classified as three groups. There are alkane, alkene and alkyne. The alkane means carbon-carbon single bond. The alkene has a carbon-carbon double bond. The alkyne means carbon-carbon having triple bond in the molecule.

 Complete answer:
The molecular formula of methane is \[{\text{C}}{{\text{H}}_{\text{4}}}\].
The molecular formula of methyl chloride is \[{\text{C}}{{\text{H}}_{\text{3}}}{\text{Cl}}\].
The reaction of methane to methyl chloride is given below,
\[{\text{C}}{{\text{H}}_{\text{4}}}{\text{ + C}}{{\text{l}}_{\text{2}}} \to {\text{C}}{{\text{H}}_{\text{3}}}{\text{Cl}} + {\text{HCl}}\]
In the presence of sunlight, methane is reacted with chlorine to give methyl chloride as product and hydrochloride as side product. In this reaction, one of the hydrogen in methane is replaced by chlorine atom to form methyl chloride by free radical mechanism. One of the hydrogen in methane is replaced by chlorine atom to form methyl chloride by substitution mechanism. Hence the above reaction is called a free radical substitution reaction.
According to the above discussion, we conclude conversion of \[{\text{C}}{{\text{H}}_{\text{4}}}\] to \[{\text{C}}{{\text{H}}_{\text{3}}}{\text{Cl}}\] is an example of free radical substitution reaction.
Hence, Option A is not correct answer, because conversion of \[{\text{C}}{{\text{H}}_{\text{4}}}\] to \[{\text{C}}{{\text{H}}_{\text{3}}}{\text{Cl}}\] is not an example of electrophilic substitution reaction.
Option B is not correct answer, because conversion of \[{\text{C}}{{\text{H}}_{\text{4}}}\] to \[{\text{C}}{{\text{H}}_{\text{3}}}{\text{Cl}}\] is not an example of free radical addition reaction.
Option C is not correct answer, because conversion of \[{\text{C}}{{\text{H}}_{\text{4}}}\] to \[{\text{C}}{{\text{H}}_{\text{3}}}{\text{Cl}}\] is not an example of nucleophilic substitution reaction.

 Option D is correct answer, because conversion of \[{\text{C}}{{\text{H}}_{\text{4}}}\] to \[{\text{C}}{{\text{H}}_{\text{3}}}{\text{Cl}}\] is an example of free radical substitution reaction.

 Note:
We must know the conversion of one type of hydrocarbon to another hydrocarbon by oxidation and reduction. The oxidation of alkane to give alkene. The oxidation of alkene to give alkyne. The reduction of alkyne to give alkene. The reduction of alkene to give alkane. It has some general formulas. The general formula of alkane is\[{{\text{C}}_{\text{n}}}{{\text{H}}_{{\text{2n + 2}}}}\]. The general formula of alkene is\[{{\text{C}}_{\text{n}}}{{\text{H}}_{{\text{2n}}}}\]. The general formula of alkyne is \[{{\text{C}}_{\text{n}}}{{\text{H}}_{{\text{2n - 2}}}}\].