Question

When bromoethane is subjected to Wurtz reaction, the hydrocarbon mixture so obtained consists of

• A. butane only
• B. butane and ethane
• C. butane and ethene
• D. butane, ethane and ethene.

Answer 1

Answer: (D)

butane, ethane and ethene

Answer 2

When bromoethane is treated with sodium metal in dry ether (Wurtz reaction), the primary process is the coupling of two ethyl radicals to form butane:

$$2\, \ce{CH3CH2Br} + 2\, \ce{Na} \rightarrow \ce{CH3CH2CH2CH3} + 2\, \ce{NaBr}$$

However, side reactions can occur:

• Reduction: Some ethyl radicals abstract a hydrogen atom to form ethane.
• Elimination: Under the reaction conditions, dehydrohalogenation can produce ethene.

Thus, the reaction yields a mixture of butane, ethane, and ethene.