Question

By Wurtz reaction, a mixture of methyl iodide and ethyl iodide gives :

• A. butane
• B. ethane
• C. propane
• D. A mixture of the above three

Answer 1

Answer: (D)

A mixture of the above three

Answer 2

Methyl iodide and ethyl iodide, on treatment with sodium in ethereal solution, give a mixture of propane, ethane and butane, as follows
$CH _{3}[ I +2 Na + I ]- CH _{2} CH _{3} {->[\text{ether}]} \underset{\text{propane}}{CH _{3} CH _{2} CH _{3}}+2 NaI$
$CH_3I + 2Na + I -CH_3 \to \underset{\text{ethane}}{CH_3 -CH_3} + 2NaI$
$C_2H_5I + 2Na + I -C_2H_5 \to \underset{\text{butane}}{C_2H_5C_2H_5} + 2NaI$.