Methyl chloride prepared by chlorination of methane is always contaminated with some ethane What is the source of ethane ? Explain.

Methyl chloride prepared by chlorination of methane is always contamin

1.	Methyl chloride prepared by chlorination of methane is always contaminated with some ethane What is the source of ethane ? Explain.
Answer» Solution :Chlorination of METHANE is a free radical reaction which occurs by the following MECHANISM : From the above mechanism, it is EVIDENT that during PROPAGATION step, `oversetdot(CH_3)` free radicals are produced which may undergo three reactions , i.e. (i)-(iii). In the chain termination step , the two `oversetdot(CH_3)` free radicals combine together to FORM ethane `(CH_3-CH_3)` molecules .