COMEDK2025ChemistryHydrocarbonsActual
Identify the Alkane (molecular formula C ₈ H ₁₈ ) which yields only a single monochloride on Chlorination in the presence of sunlight.
Options
- A2, 4 -Dimethylhexane
- B3,4-Dimethylhexane
- C2, 2, 3, 3-Tetramethylbutane
- D2, 2, 4-Trimethylpentane
Correct answer
C. 2, 2, 3, 3-Tetramethylbutane
Step-by-step solution
The formation of only a single monochloride upon chlorination implies that all hydrogen atoms in the alkane molecule are equivalent. This means the molecule must possess a high degree of symmetry such that replacing any hydrogen atom with a chlorine atom results in the same product. Analyzing the options: 2,4-Dimethylhexane has multiple types of hydrogen atoms (primary, secondary, and tertiary), leading to multiple monochlorinated isomers. 3,4-Dimethylhexane also has multiple types of hydrogen atoms, leading to mul