Question

What might occur in the reaction between isopropyl bromide with sodium metal?

Answer 1

Isopropyl bromide is an alkyl halide in which two methyl groups were bonded to one carbon atom. To that carbon atom only the halogen atom which is bromine was attached. When alkyl halides react with sodium metal the Wurtz reaction alkanes will be formed by a radical mechanism.

Complete Step By Step Answer:
Wurtz reaction is one of the important chemical reactions in organic reactions. The two molecules of alkyl halide react with sodium metal to form alkanes.
Isopropyl bromide is an alkyl halide in which the two methyl groups and bromine atoms are attached to the same carbon. When an alkyl halide is reacted with sodium metal alkanes will be formed.
At first, isopropyl bromide in presence of sodium metal undergoes radical mechanism to form isopropyl radical. As the two molecules of isopropyl bromide were taken, two moles of isopropyl radicals were formed. These two isopropyl radicals were reacted to give $1,3$ dimethyl butane, which is a symmetrical alkane.
In the Wurtz reaction, symmetrical alkanes will be formed. The chemical reaction involved is:
$2{\left( {C{H_3}} \right)_2}CHBr + 2Na\xrightarrow{\Delta }{\left( {C{H_3}} \right)_2}CH - CH{\left( {C{H_3}} \right)_2} + 2NaBr$
From the above chemical reaction, it was clear that along with the formation of symmetrical alkane, the salt sodium bromide is also formed.

Note:
As Wurtz reaction can be done via a free radical path. The heat energy must be supplied to the chemical reaction. Then only the electrons can be lost from the molecule which leads to the formation of free radicals. Mostly, symmetrical alkanes form in the Wurtz reaction.