What are the products when methane reacts with chlorine under UV light?

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Study for the IGCSE Edexcel Chemistry Test. Access flashcards and multiple choice questions with hints and explanations. Get ready for your exam!

Multiple Choice

What are the products when methane reacts with chlorine under UV light?

Explanation:
UV light energizes chlorine molecules, breaking them into chlorine radicals. These radicals kick off a chain process where one hydrogen atom from methane is replaced by chlorine, producing chloromethane and hydrogen chloride as the immediate products: CH4 + Cl2 → CH3Cl + HCl. The appearance of HCl comes directly from the hydrogen that’s pulled off methane and couples with chlorine to form the acid gas. This is the first chlorination step; further chlorination could lead to more highly chlorinated products, but the primary outcome of this UV-initiated reaction is chloromethane and hydrogen chloride.

UV light energizes chlorine molecules, breaking them into chlorine radicals. These radicals kick off a chain process where one hydrogen atom from methane is replaced by chlorine, producing chloromethane and hydrogen chloride as the immediate products: CH4 + Cl2 → CH3Cl + HCl. The appearance of HCl comes directly from the hydrogen that’s pulled off methane and couples with chlorine to form the acid gas. This is the first chlorination step; further chlorination could lead to more highly chlorinated products, but the primary outcome of this UV-initiated reaction is chloromethane and hydrogen chloride.

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