What is radical halogenation?

1 Answer
Monzur R.
Dec 12, 2016

When a halogen is substituted onto a molecule via free radical substituion.

Explanation:

An example of this reaction is the halogenation of methane.

#"CH"_4 + "C"l_2 (+"UV light")rarr "CH"_3"C"l + "HC"l#

In this reaction, methane reacts with the free radical #"C"l*#. This radical is formed when the bond chlorine in a chlorine molecule is broken so that each atom gets one electron - this is known as homolytic fission.

#"C"l_2(+"UV light")rarr"C"l*+"C"l*#

These radicals then react with methane in a free radical halogenation reaction to form chloromethane.

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