Which of the following is obtained as major product when excess of methane is treated with limited chlorine…

Which of the following is obtained as major product when excess of methane is treated with limited chlorine in presence of UV light?
  1. Chloromethane
  2. Dichloromethane
  3. Trichloromethane
  4. Tetrachloromethane

Solution

The reaction between methane and chlorine under UV light proceeds through free radical substitution mechanisms.

The primary reaction yields chloromethane: $\text{CH}_4 + \text{Cl}_2 \xrightarrow{\text{UV light}} \text{CH}_3\text{Cl} + \text{HCl}$.

While subsequent chlorination is possible: $\text{CH}_3\text{Cl} + \text{Cl}_2 \rightarrow \text{CH}_2\text{Cl}_2 + \text{HCl}$, $\text{CH}_2\text{Cl}_2 + \text{Cl}_2 \rightarrow \text{CHCl}_3 + \text{HCl}$, $\text{CHCl}_3 + \text{Cl}_2 \rightarrow \text{CCl}_4 + \text{HCl}$,
an excess of methane with limited chlorine favors monochlorination.
The high concentration of methane increases the probability of chlorine radicals reacting with $\text{CH}_4$ rather than chlorinated derivatives.

Chloromethane is therefore the major product.

Asked in: MHT CET 2025 (05 May Shift 2)

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