MHT CET202527 Apr 2025Evening ShiftChemistryHydrocarbonsActual
Which major product is formed when excess of methane is treated with chlorine in presence of UV light?
Options
- AChloromethane
- BDichloromethane
- CTrichloromethane
- DTetrachloromethane
Correct answer
A. Chloromethane
Step-by-step solution
Methane reacts with chlorine under UV light through free radical substitution. The stepwise mechanism involves: CH ₄ + Cl ₂ UV light CH ₃ Cl + HCl CH ₃ Cl + Cl ₂ UV light CH ₂ Cl ₂ + HCl CH ₂ Cl ₂ + Cl ₂ UV light CHCl ₃ + HCl CHCl ₃ + Cl ₂ UV light CCl ₄ + HCl With excess methane, chlorine radicals predominantly encounter unreacted methane rather than chlorinated products. This kinetic preference favors monochlorination, making chloromethane the major product. The final answer is A .