Chlorination of Methane
(You will be asked to draw and explain the path of electrons in each reaction)
The reaction occurs ONLY in the presence of a free radical.
A free radical is an atom with an unpaired electron that once belonged to a bond.
Halogens form free radicals in presence of UV light. This type of fission is called HOMOLYTIC. So, Chlorine molecules will split HOMOLITICALLY to form CHLORINE RADICALS.
This formation of the free radicals will trigger the chain reaction for the chlorination of methane.
There are three steps in the reaction:I
- Initiation: the free radical form
- Propagation: the free radical reacts with more molecules forming more free radicals
- Termination: two free radicals get together forming new molecules