Final answer:
Methane (CH4) can react with chlorine (Cl2) to form four different halogenation products: methyl chloride (CH3Cl), dichloromethane (CH2Cl2), chloroform (CHCl3), and carbon tetrachloride (CCl4).
Step-by-step explanation:
When methane (CH4) reacts with chlorine (Cl2), it can produce various halogenation products. Initially, methane can react with a single chlorine molecule to form methyl chloride (CH3Cl) and hydrogen chloride (HCl). However, with more chlorine present, it can continue replacing hydrogen atoms in a stepwise fashion to form a mixture of products including dichloromethane (CH2Cl2), chloroform (CHCl3), and carbon tetrachloride (CCl4).
Therefore, methane can yield a total of four halogenated methane compounds when reacting with chlorine:
Methyl chloride (CH3Cl)
Dichloromethane (CH2Cl2)
Chloroform (CHCl3)
Carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)
It's important to note that these reactions can be quite hazardous, as the reaction with fluorine is explosive and iodine typically requires indirect methods for reactivity due to its unreactive nature.