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What happens when 2-bromopropane reacts with sodium in the presence of dry ether?

a) Formation of a Grignard reagent
b) Formation of an alkene
c) Formation of an alkane
d) No reaction occurs

1 Answer

6 votes

Final answer:

When 2-bromopropane reacts with sodium in the presence of dry ether, an alkane is formed through a Wurtz reaction. This process yields n-butane as the final product by coupling two 2-bromopropane molecules after the removal of bromine atoms.

Step-by-step explanation:

When 2-bromopropane reacts with sodium in the presence of dry ether, the reaction is a type of coupling reaction called a Wurtz reaction. This reaction leads to the formation of an alkane. The mechanism involves the sodium metal reacting with the bromine atom in the 2-bromopropane to produce sodium bromide and a free radical. The free radicals then couple together to form the alkane, which is essentially the same carbon skeleton as the starting alkyl halide without the bromine atoms. As a result, two molecules of 2-bromopropane will combine to form n-butane.

This type of reaction is different from reactions that involve the formation of Grignard reagents or alkenes, and there is indeed a reaction under these conditions, so the option of 'No reaction occurs' is incorrect.

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