In the presence of ultraviolet light, ethane and chlorine react to give a mixture of products. What are the products of this reaction?

The reaction that is occuring is a substitution reaction as ethan is already a saturated molecule. The ultraviolet light provides the energy needed to break the bonds between hydrogen and carbon in ethane so that the chlorine atoms can replace the hydrogen ones.

Ethane's chemical formula is CH3CH​3 ​and since chlorine is a diatomic gas, its formula is Cl2

The equation representing this reaction is therefore:

CH​3CH​3 +Cl​2 ->CH2​ClCH2Cl+H​2

So the products of the reation are 1,2-dichloro ethane and hydrogen gas

SW
Answered by Sarah W. Chemistry tutor

45612 Views

See similar Chemistry A Level tutors

Related Chemistry A Level answers

All answers ▸

Proteins are an important part of a healthy diet because they provide essential amino acids. (a) State what is meant by an essential amino acid.


What is entropy and how is it used in chemistry?


What product would you expect to obtain when reacting ethanal (or acetaldehyde) with potassium cyanide (KCN) in dilute acid? Draw a curly arrow mechanism for this transformation, and determine whether you obtain one enantiomer or a racemic mixture.


Calculate the pH of the solution formed when 30 cm3 of 0.150 moldm-3 aqueous sulfuric acid is added to 30 cm3 of 0.200 moldm-3 aqueous potassium hydroxide at 25 C.


We're here to help

contact us iconContact ustelephone icon+44 (0) 203 773 6020
Facebook logoInstagram logoLinkedIn logo

MyTutor is part of the IXL family of brands:

© 2025 by IXL Learning