Question

When ethyl iodide and propyl iodide react with Na in the presence of ether, they form.

• A. One alkane
• B. Two alkanes
• C. Four alkanes
• D. Three alkanes

Answer 1

Answer: (D)

Three alkanes

Answer 2

$C_{2}H_{5}I + 2Na + C_{3}H_{7}I\underset{\text{Ether}}{\overset{\quad\text{Dry}\quad}{\rightarrow}}$ $\underset{\text{Pentane}}{C_{2}H_{5} - C_{3}H_{7}} + 2NaI$

$C_{2}H_{5}I + 2Na + C_{2}H_{5}I\underset{\text{Ether}}{\overset{\quad\text{Dry}\quad}{\rightarrow}}\underset{\text{Butane}}{C_{2}H_{5} - C_{2}H_{5}} + 2NaI$

$C_{3}H_{7}I + 2Na + C_{3}H_{7}I\underset{Ether}{\overset{\quad Dry\quad}{\rightarrow}}\underset{\text{Hexane}}{C_{3}H_{7} - C_{3}H_{7}} + 2NaI$