Name: Structure of Benzene
Uploaded: 2019-07-19
Duration: 3 min 53 s
Description: Benzene is the most commonly known aromatic compound and is a significant part of gasoline. In this video, we will study the structure and properties of benz...

Question

How can alkanes be prepared from an alkyl halide?

Accepted Answer

Alkanes can be prepared from an alkyl halide as follows:

(a) Wurtz reaction: In this reaction alkyl halide (preferably bromide or iodide) is treated with sodium in the presence of dry ether to give an alkane containing double the number of carbon atoms present in the alkyl halide. e.g.,

(b) Through Grignard reagents: Alkyl halides, especially bromides or iodides react with magnesium metal in the presence of diethyl ether to form alkylmagnesium halides also known as Grignard reagents. These Grignard reagents reacts readily with compounds containing active hydrogens such as water, acids, alcohols, ammonia, etc. to form alkanes. e.g.,

$\underset{Ethyl iodide}{{CH}_{3} {CH}_{2} I} + Mg \overset{Dry ether}{\to} \underset{Ethylmagnesium iodide}{{CH}_{3} {CH}_{2} MgI} \underset{Ethylmagnesium iodide}{{CH}_{3} {CH}_{2} MgI} + H_{2} O \to \underset{Ethane}{{CH}_{3} {CH}_{3}} + Mg (OH) I$

How can alkanes be prepared from an alkyl halide?

Important Questions on Hydrocarbons

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