Question

Methane can be converted to ethane by the reaction

• A. chlorination followed by the reaction with alcoholic $KOH$
• B. chlorination followed by the reaction with aqueous $KOH$
• C. chlorinationfollowed by Wurtz reaction
• D. chlorination followed by decarboxylation.

Answer 1

Answer: (C)

The chlorination of methane is carried out by treating it with chlorine in presence of ultraviolet light or by heating the reaction mixture to $520-670 \,K$.
$\underset{\text { methane }}{ CH _{4}}+ Cl _{2} \stackrel{\text { hv or } \Delta}{\longrightarrow} \underset{\text { methyl chloride }}{ CH _{3} Cl }+ HCl$
This methyl chloride react with metallic $Na$ in presence of dry ether to form symmetrical alkane the number of carbon atoms (ethane). This reaction is called Wurtz reaction.