Question

The product/s following reaction is (are) $C_2{H}_{5}Br+2Na+C{H}_{3}Br\stackrel{\text{Dry ether}}{\to }$ ?

• A. Ethane
• B. Propane
• C. Butane
• D. Ethane, propane and butane

Answer 1

Answer: (D)

When two different alkyl halides are heated with sodium metal in the presence of dry ether, a mixture of different alkanes (having double or more the number of carbon atoms as present in the parent halide) is obtained. This, reaction is called $Wurtz$ reaction
$C_2{H}_{5}Br+2Na+C{H}_{3}Br\stackrel{\text{Dry ether}}{\to }\underset{\text{ethane}}{C{H}_3—C{H}_3}+\underset{\text{Butane}}{C_2{H}_5—C_2{H}_5}+\underset{\text{propane}}{C_2{H}_5—C{H}_3}$