NEET Chemistry Question (2026) — Solution

Step-by-step solution

Ethane undergoes free radical halogenation with chlorine in the presence of UV light to form ethyl chloride (X). C _2 H _6 + Cl _2 UV light C _2 H _5 Cl \ (X) Ethyl chloride reacts with ammonia via nucleophilic substitution to form ethylamine (Y). C _2 H _5 Cl + NH _3 C _2 H _5 NH _2 \ (Y) Ethylamine, being a primary aliphatic amine, reacts with nitrous acid ( NaNO _2 + HCl ) to form an unstable aliphatic diazonium salt, which decomposes to yield a carbocation. The carbocation reacts with water to form ethanol (Z). C _2 H _5 NH _2 NaNO _2/ HCl [ C _2 H _5 N _2^ + Cl ^ - ] H _2 O C _2 H _5 OH \ (Z) + N _2 + HCl Thus, the major product Z is C _2 H _5 OH . Answer: C _2 H _5 OH