Question

What can be produced by the chlorination of alkanes?

1) Alkenes
2) Alcohols
3) Aldehydes
4) Ketones

Answer 1

The chlorination of alkanes primarily results in the formation of alkyl halides, not alkenes, alcohols, aldehydes, or ketones. These alkyl halides include compounds such as methyl chloride, dichloromethane, chloroform, and carbon tetrachloride.

Step-by-step explanation:

The chlorination of alkanes can produce various types of compounds depending on the specific conditions and reactants involved, but typically, the primary reaction is a substitution reaction where a chlorine atom replaces a hydrogen atom in the alkane. This reaction yields alkyl halides, also known as haloalkanes. For instance, the chlorination of methane in the presence of ultraviolet light or at high temperature would produce methyl chloride (CH3Cl), along with other possible products such as dichloromethane (CH2Cl2), chloroform (CHCl3), and carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) if more chlorine is present. Therefore, of the options given:

1. Alkenes
2. Alcohols
3. Aldehydes
4. Ketones

none are the primary products of alkane chlorination. Instead, the chlorination of alkanes primarily produces alkyl halides.