Question

How many gram of sodium (atomic mass $23\, u$) is required to prepare one mole of ethane from methyl chloride by Wurtz reaction?

• A. $2$
• B. $23$
• C. $11.5$
• D. $46$

Answer 1

Answer: (D)

$46$

Answer 2

The Wurtz reaction between methyl chloride and sodium metal in presence of dry ether can be written as :

$2CH_3Cl+2Na \ce{ ->[{\text{Dry ether}}] } \underset{\text{Ethane}}{CH_{3} �CH_{3}}+2NaCl$

$\Rightarrow 2$ moles of sodium metal reacts to give 1 mole of ethane.

Also,

1 mole of Na metal $=23 \,g$

$\therefore 2$ moles of Na metal $=23 \times 2=46 \,g$

Thus, $46 \,g$ of sodium is required to prepare one mole of ethane from methyl chloride by Wurtz reaction