When a mixture of two different alkyl halides reacts with metallic sodium in dry ether, the formation of a possible number of alkanes are-

Step-by-step solution

Let the two different alkyl halides be R-X and R'-X . When this mixture reacts with metallic sodium in dry ether (Wurtz reaction), three types of coupling reactions take place. R-X + 2Na + X-R R-R + 2NaX R'-X + 2Na + X-R' R'-R' + 2NaX R-X + 2Na + X-R' R-R' + 2NaX Thus, a total of three different alkanes are formed. Answer: Three